Primary priority of new Jharkhand government should be to fix dilapidated public education, health systems

Counterview Desk

Government formation should be followed with action on Jharkhandi issues: Statement by Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan*:

***

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan extends advance congratulations to the INDIA alliance government being formed today under the leadership of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. In this election, the people of Jharkhand have rejected the communal, divisive, and anti-Jharkhand politics of the BJP. This victory is a result of struggle of the Jharkhandis. Now, the INDIA alliance government, formed with a full majority, should begin working on its promises and state’s burning issues of the state, in accordance with Jhakhandi expectations, without hesitation. On the day of government formation, Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan is reminding it of some important promises and issues on which action should begin within six months. The government should start with an initiative to strengthen Jharkhandi unity and secularism against the BJP and RSS's attempts to divide society in the name of religion.

The primary priority of the government should be to fix the dilapidated public education and health systems of the state. For this, all vacant positions in the education and health systems should be filled within six months. A comprehensive campaign should be launched to establish quality education and health services. In the previous term, the Hemant Soren government passed the 1932 Khatiyan-based domicile policy in the assembly and sent it to the Center for inclusion in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution. However, during those five years, the anti-Jharkhand domicile and recruitment policies of the Raghubar Das government remained in effect. As soon as the INDIA government is formed, this policy should be repealed, and the policy based on the 1932 Khatiyan and the last survey settlement (with special provisions for the landless) should be implemented without waiting for its inclusion in the 9th Schedule. One of the key announcements of the INDIA alliance is to simplify the process of issuing caste/residential certificates to landless Dalits and displaced persons and to distribute these certificates within six months. Immediate action is expected on this.

Hemant Soren had given the right slogan in the election campaign that not NRC, but CNT-SPT law and PESA Act will prevail in Jharkhand. The government should notify PESA rules as per the suggestions of the society to strengthen tribal autonomy. A judicial inquiry commission should be constituted against the land grab that took place in violation of the CNT-SPT Act. A time-bound campaign should be launched, as per the electoral promise, to rectify the land scams that occurred in the online land records program, and action should be taken against the culprits.

Additionally, the INDIA coalition had announced that as soon as the government is formed, the Land Acquisition Act (Jharkhand) Amendment 2017 and the Land Bank Policy would be repealed. It is hoped that this will be the first decision after the formation of the government. Furthermore, within three months of the formation of the government, the promise to distribute all pending individual and community forest land claims without any reductions should be fulfilled. A Displacement and Rehabilitation Commission should be established, and the process of providing land to the landless, Dalits, and poor farmers should begin.

According to government data from a year ago, there are approximately 15,000 undertrial prisoners in the state, the majority of whom are Adivasis, Dalits, backward classes, and Muslims. Many of these cases are false. As per the electoral promise made by JMM, undertrial prisoners who have been in jail for a long time should be released. A high-level judicial inquiry commission should be constituted to free Adivasis, indigenous people, and marginalized individuals trapped in false cases.

To eliminate widespread malnutrition in the state, it should immediately be ensured that all children are given an egg daily in Anganwadis and mid-day meals in schools, and the centralized kitchen system for mid-day meals should be abolished. Additionally, the government's priority should also be to eliminate ground-level corruption. For this, the contracting system should be curbed immediately, and an active decentralized grievance redressal system should be established. Appointments should be made in all commissions—such as the Women's Commission, Human Rights Commission, Information Commission, etc.—and they should be made active.

Additionally, there are many public issues in the state that require serious action. Chief Minister Hemant Soren should establish a regular dialogue process with people's organizations and social activists to discuss ground-level issues and needs so that, together, everyone can move towards *Abua Raj* in the next five years.

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*On behalf of the campaign:

Afzal Anis, Ajay Ekka, Ambika Yadav, Amrita Bodra, Ambita Kisku, Aloka Kujur, Arvind Anjum, Basing Hassa, Bharat Bhushan Choudhary, Bhashan Manmi, Binsay Munda, Charles Murmu, Dinesh Murmu, Elina Horo, Emilia Hansda, Hari Kumar Bhagat, Jean Dreze, Jyoti Kujur, Kumar Chandra Mardy, Kiran, Leena, Lal Mohan Singh Kherwar, Manasingh Munda, Meri Nisha Hansda, Manthan, Munni Devi, Nandita Bhattacharya, Praveer Peter, Paku Tudu, Ramchandra Manjhi, Raja Bharti, Ramesh Jerai, Reshmi Devi, Roz Khakha, Roz Madhu Tirki, Riya Tulika Pingua, Shashi Kumar, Sandeep Pradhan, Siraj Dutta, Sushil Marandi, Sebastian Marandi, Santosh Pahadia, Tom Kawla, Vinod Kumar

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