Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren began Khatiyani Johar Yatra on Thursday from Garhwa district.
Sources in the chief minister’s secretariat informed that the rally was named Khatiyani Johar Yatra as it sought to celebrate the government’s new domicile policy, based on land records (Khatiyan) of 1932 which was passed by the state Assembly last month, and other government achievements such as 27 per cent reservation for OBC, resumption of the old pension scheme, loan waiver scheme for farmers and crop relief scheme.
A release issued by the chief minister’s secretariat on Wednesday evening said: “After the tremendous success of the public outreach programme for doorstep delivery of select welfare schemes (Aapki Yojana Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar) campaign last month, the chief minister will now review development-related works at the district level and take stock of the actual progress by visiting various districts in person along with surprise visits to any department of the district. Besides this, the blanket distribution shall also be done amongst the poor by the chief minister.”
In the course of the district-level review, Soren will seek details about the status of schools of excellence, model schools, government schools, health centres, hospitals, hostels, drinking water supply, conditions of roads and bridges, irrigation facilities, anganwadi centres, public distribution system (PDS) shops, as well as other basic facilities related to common people.
“The chief minister shall not just review but also personally visit the sites and take stock of the actual conditions,” the release added. Soren will also study the focused schemes of the state, especially Savitribai Phule Kishori Samridhi Yojana, Chief Minister Employment Generation Scheme (CMEGP), Pashudhan Vikas Yojana, Sarvajan Pension Yojana, K.C.C, farmers loan waiver scheme, MGNREGA, besides others. He has asked secretaries of all the concerned departments, higher officials and district-level office bearers to be present during his visit to various districts so that problems faced by the people can be solved immediately on the spot.
“The yatra would be led by Hemant Ji and there would be senior leaders from the Congress and the RJD of the concerned districts, MLAs and cabinet ministers who are in charge of the concerned districts. The idea is to connect with the people in their district and also take feedback on the welfare schemes and historic decisions taken by the government,” said JMM central general secretary and party spokesperson Vinod Pandey.
The yatra will end on December 16.
“The first phase covers six districts namely Garhwa, Palamau, Gumla, Lohardaga, Godda and Deoghar by December 16 as the winter session of the Assembly is likely to be held from December 16,” said a source in the CM secretariat.