Ramesh to review welfare schemes

Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh will visit Rohtas district on Saturday to review implementation of various welfare schemes of the central government. The district administration is leaving no stone unturned to impress the minister, who is known for his straightforwardness. Senior administration officials of the district, especially those associated with rural development work, are holding meetings with tribal people, panchayat representatives and block officers and training them for a good show.

Ramesh will interact with tribal, hilly people and panchayat representatives to seek feedback from them about implementation of various rural development schemes at a programme to be held at Project High School near Rohtas block office, official sources said. The minister will do spot verification of different central rural development and welfare schemes and also visit the newly constructed administrative buildings of gram panchayats. Senior administration and police officials will accompany the minister during his visit to the district.

However, the main cause of concern for the officials is outbreak of diarrhoea in hilly areas. A large number of people, mostly from tribal and mahadalit communities, are suffering from the disease. According to locals, the cause behind outbreak of diarrhoea is consumption of contaminated water. “There is a huge scarcity of fresh drinking water in the hilly areas,” they said.

The officials, therefore, have kept their fingers crossed as far as impressing the union minister is concerned. Apart from diarrhoea, people living in hilly areas of the district are also suffering from other diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and brain fever due to malnutrition and lack of sanitation. Absence of doctors and staff at government hospitals has further aggravated the situation. Rohtas district secretary of CPI (ML) New Democracy, Ayodhya Ram said development still remained a distant dream for those living in hilly areas of the district. He said if Ramesh actually wanted improvement in living condition of the poor, he should change the way rural development and welfare schemes are being implemented in the district.