The Jharkhand government would soon launch a toll-free number for its lawmakers to report their grievances directly to the chief minister for early resolution.

Chief minister Hemant Soren announced this during a meeting at his residence in Ranchi on Saturday evening.

“It was a routine meeting of the ruling UPA MLAs and ministers in which the elected lawmakers sought early resolutions to the problems. The chief minister assured of starting a toll-free number through which elected MLAs, irrespective of party affiliations, can lodge their grievances and problems pertaining to implementation of government schemes and it would be addressed at the shortest possible time,” said Congress legislative party leader and state parliamentary affairs minister, Alamgir Alam.

The senior Congress leader and almost all the MLAs expressed concern over the deficit rainfall leading to drought like scenario in Santhal Pargana and districts bordering Bihar.

“The ministers and MLAs had in-depth discussions with the chief minister on the drought situation due to low rainfall region wise. The MLAs also wished that the problems pertaining to development works in their area should be resolved soon. Apart from this, many other important issues were also discussed in detail,” said a release issued by the chief minister’s secretariat later in the evening.

“The chief minister considered all the points raised by the MLAs and assured full cooperation of the state government on the issues of public interest raised by the ministers and MLAs of the ruling party. The chief minister said that our government is a government of people's aspirations and is committed to work collectively for the people of all sections and communities of the state without any discrimination,” the release added.

It further said the chief minister asked all the MLAs to ensure that all welfare schemes of the government reach the last mile in villages.Contrary to speculations being raised in political circles, there was no discussion on the political crisis, which might arise in the ruling JMM-led UPA government in case the Election Commission gives an adverse decision in the case of office of profit against Hemant.

Significantly, the hearing in the office of profit case against Hemant before the EC over grant of mining lease was completed on Friday and a decision is likely to be made soon.

“There was no discussion, as was speculated in the media, on a possible alternative for chief minister’s post if the ECI disqualifies membership of chief minister in the office of profit case,” said a Congress minister present in the meeting.Later in the day, Hemant also gave his consent for withdrawal of cases filed against tribals supporting Pathalgadi in protest against amendments to the CNT/SPT Act at Gumla in 2016 during the erstwhile Raghubar Das-led BJP government.