Allaying apprehensions of tribals, Chief Minister-designate Raghubar Das has said that his Government will soon review over 6,000 petty offences lodged against the tribals, which are keeping them in jail. He also revealed his special plan to ensure all-round development of the three tribal-dominated districts every year.
Das, in an exclusive interview, said that a large number of innocent tribals have been "unfairly" jailed in the State. "We had raised the issue earlier in the Assembly too. So, we will do something urgently to ensure justice to innocent and unfairly jailed adivasis," Das, who has been appointed the first non-tribal chief minister breaking free from the calculus of tribal politics in its quest for stability and development, pointed out.
The CM-designate also revealed that he has a blueprint ready to fully develop 12 tribal-dominated districts in the State. "We will give special focus on three districts every year, covering all the 12 within next four years," he added.
Das said that he was inheriting a legacy of major problems in every field, be it law and order, health, education, and for that matter industrial growth. "The Jharkhand 'namdhari' parties (read JMM) exploited the sentiments of tribals and virtually destroyed them. They are forced to fetch drinking water, particularly in Santhal Pargana from drains. It is a big challenge as how to bring the tribals and other underprivileged sections of the society at par with their well off brethren," he said.
Das pointed out that we have got the decisive mandate on the planks of development and stability. "Tribal-non-tribal CM was not an issue. Everybody wants development. People voted for Narendra Modi rising above caste, creed and religion. But regional parties indulged in vote bank politics. Now, it's time to dump divisive politics and look for development," he added.
The CM designate said that his government will be committed to provide corruption-free Government. "The anti-corruption wings like the Vigilance Bureau and lokayukta will be strengthened and given a free hand. We are going to open more special courts for speedy trial of the corruption cases," he added.
He also said that the Supreme Court order for transferring the IAS and IPS officials will be followed in letter and spirit.
Unveiling his priorities, Das said that the Government will focus on three sectors -- industry, agriculture and services. "We have to begin the long pending appointment process. We have to stop the large scale migration, particularly of girls and women to metros. We have to develop the education sector in order to stop large scale migration of students to other cities. We have to first create infrastructure like road, power etc. We are going to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for agriculture and ensure irrigation facility so that farmers could reap three crops in a year. We have to create an environment in which women and girls feel safe. We have to provide an accountable administration," he pointed out.
Das also asserted that he was not 'anti-industry'. "It was a canard spread by my opponents," he added.
"People might cite my tiff with the Tata Steel management. But as a matter of fact, I was instrumental in facilitating the company to shift a large number of people who had been settled adjacent to the factory site. I only wanted Tatas to provide basic facilities to the oustees, which the company was mandated to do under the land lease agreement signed with the State Government," he pointed out.
He maintained that the corporate sector has to play a pivotal role in the development of the State. "We have to take everybody on board. The Government can't do everything. We have to adopt public private partnership in various fields, including education, road, power Our government will also create a land bank and put a single window system in place so that the investors do not have to move from pillar to post," he said.
On the Naxal problem, he said that a long-term solution for it has to be found. "The menace of Maoists has increased over the years because we always had a weak government in place. We were not able to fulfill the basic needs to the villagers which resulted into their anger against the government. If we ensure development at the grass-root level, we will contain the Naxal problem," he maintained.
The CM-designate also said that he believed in team work and will seek advice not only from the senior leaders of the BJP but also other parties. "Everybody has to play a role in bringing the State back on the track," he signed off.