After Raen Basera given on rent to spend a night, the night shelters for the homeless are also available for shopkeepers to run business activities ranging from book stalls to small time eateries in the city.
A Raen Basera building situated at Ratu Road near Sai Temple has been converted into a small shopping complex. The place runs a host of commercial activities — bookstore, general store and ration shop accompanied by a small hotel at its terrace-minus providing shelter to poor. “We are running our shop for the past 10 years and pay a good sum as a token of rent to its caretaker,” said a shopkeeper of a bookstore on the condition of anonymity.
When the officials of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) were questioned regarding the same, they were found shifting the responsibility on the Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA) shoulder.
RMC CEO Manoj Kumar said, “RMC is answerable for only 11 Raen Baseras which fall under its jurisdiction. For the rest, officials of RRDA should be consulted as they have erected the building and are looking after them.”
Raen Basera situated near Dhurwa bus stand, Jagarnnathpur Basti Chowk, AG More Doranda, Near Seva Sadan, Jalan Road near Bihari Dharamsala, near Pahadi Mandir, Madhukum road, ITI Bus stand, Karam Toli Chowk, Opposite RIMS Chowk, Karbala Chowk and near Ward Office are the 11 Raen Baresa which are under RMC responsibility.
RRDA secretary Hl Mandal said, “RRDA has erected the building but it is not our responsibility to look after them. It will be better if questions are put on RMC for the same as they are the
right source to answer the question.”
Interestingly, RMC has not taken any concrete step to nip in the bud the wrong practices of Raen Basera janitors. A couple of week ago Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya has assured to look into the matter and take strong step in this direction. “We assure to look into the matter seriously in the coming days and will punish the offensive,” said Kumar.
He further added that the caretakers of Raen Basera are of Sulabh International the company which is held responsible for maintaining the RMC Raen Basera. However, Sulabh International Manager UP Jha has denied of coming across any such practice in the Raen Basera. He said, “I am not aware about it. If it is so then will look into the matter.”