Launches Rs 100 Cr development project, implores people to shun bullet join mainstream
Ranchi, January 27: Hemant Soren on Friday became the first Jharkhand chief minister to visit the ‘Budha Pahad’ – a former Maoist hotbed – situated near the border with Chhattisgarh, where he launched a development project worth Rs 100 crore, officials said.
Soren arrived at the hilltop a little after noon, where the CRPF has now set up a camp, they said.
The Rs 100-crore Budha Pahar Development Project (BPDP) will cover 11 villages of Tehri panchayat in Garhwa and 11 villages of Aksi panchayat in Latehar, the officials said.
“If need be, this amount can be increased to Rs 500 crore,” Soren said.
The Chief Minister said that in Budha Pahar area of Tehri Panchayat of Garhwa district, instead of crackling of bullets, the echo of development would be heard.
“The Maoists had kept the whole area under their control. However, our security forces have made the entire area Naxal free by giving a tough challenge to the Maoists. Today we all have gathered here and are going to make a new beginning of development. In the coming days, this area will also prove to be a milestone in terms of development,” said Soren.
“Leave the gun and join the government. Today the government is working to cover you with schemes by coming to your doorstep. By joining these schemes, choose the way to live with respect and self-respect. The government has a better policy for surrender of people who have deviated from the mainstream. The government not only makes them benefit from the government’s schemes for their development, but also makes complete arrangements for the open jail for them to live with their families and for the education of their children,” added Soren.
On this occasion, people of the area apprised the Chief Minister about their problems. The Chief Minister instructed the present officials to take initiative to solve their problems. In this sequence, the Chief Minister also had food together with the villagers.
Soren was accompanied by Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh and Director General of Police Neeraj Sinha, among other top officials.
‘Budha Pahar’, located along the Latehar and Garhwa districts, around 150 km from state capital Ranchi, was freed from the red rebels’ control by security forces after over three decades.
The exercise was carried out through three special operations that were launched since the beginning of April 2022.
A total of 14 Maoists were killed, while 590 others were either apprehended or had surrendered during these operations, the officials said.
Earlier attempts to drive out the red rebels from ‘Budha Pahad’ did not materialise due to its difficult terrain, they said.
“Several security personnel and civilians have lost their lives in the area over the years due to Maoist activities,” the DGP said.
There will be a permanent camp of the security forces at ‘Budha Pahar’, added another top police officer.
On this occasion, Chief Minister inaugurated a total of 175 schemes costing Rs 5.279 crore under BPDP. About 5500 families of 11 villages of Tehri and Harsi Panchayat will be benefited by the schemes.
Chief Minister also distributed assets worth Rs 1.25 crore among 429 beneficiaries. During this, acceptance letters were also distributed to the beneficiaries of Chief Minister Employment Generation Program, Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana, Chief Minister Pashudhan Yojana, Sarvajan Pension Yojana, Mission Vatsalya, Green Ration Card, etc.