Seraikela:Hunger strike in demand for repair of road, establishment of college

Mail News Service

Seraikela, July 10: BJP leader Ramesh Hansda led a procession of agitated villagers from Hudu and Rajnagar, to the Saraikela Subdivision office and initiated an indefinite hunger strike in demand for the repair of a dilapidated road from Kandra to Dumra, Hudu, Kunamarcha and Sini as also for the establishment of a degree college in Rajnagar.

BJP leader Ramesh Hansda stated that they would continue the hunger strike until they received a written assurance from the department regarding the fulfilment of the demands. The others participants in the hunger strike included Panduram Sardar, Mansha Murmu, Prakash Sardar, Mahesh Sardar, Lalchand Mahato, Rohin Tudu, Ramu Sardar, Krishna Tudu, Chinmay Mahato, and Jiten Mahato. The program was coordinated by Sitaram Hansda.

Prominent speakers comprising BN Singh, Raja Singhdev, Amit Singhdev, Harekrishna Pradhan, Badrinath Daroga, Sumitra Marandi, Abhijit Dutta, Reshmi Sahu, Jagdish Mahato, Michael Mahato, Rameshwar Mandal, Pawan Mahato, and Chatur Hembram shared their views.

They stated that the demand for the construction of the Hudu-Dumra road and the establishment of a degree college in Rajnagar was a longstanding issue. “It is unfortunate that even after 23 years of Jharkhand’s formation, roads and higher education facilities are not readily available. Since the past year, the rural residents of the Hudu-Dumra Panchayat area have been protesting for the repair of the only road that connects Kandra to Dumra that passes through Hudu and dense forests and serves a population of over 20,000 people. The current situation is such that if a pregnant woman needs to be transported, she could have to give birth on the way due to the poor road conditions. Large boulders dot the major roads,” they contended.

It was stated that the villagers had previously submitted a petition to the government by walking from Hudu to the district headquarters in Saraikela. However, they alleged, no steps had been taken to get the road repaired thus far. “Hence, the villagers have no other option but to resort to hunger strike. Despite having a population of over one lakh in the Rajnagar block, there is no degree college available for the education of children. If students pass their intermediate exams, they either have to go to Jamshedpur or Chaibasa for higher studies,” they pointed out.

They argued that most underprivileged children dropped out after completing intermediate classes.  The hunger strike participants presented 11 demands. Former MLA Anantram Tudu also arrived at the scene to lend his support and addressed the gathering.