The Jharkhand government wants the draft rehabilitation & resettlement (R&R) policy to be ratified by the Opposition to ensure its trouble-free implementation. Chief minister Madhu Koda, who recently had a close look into the draft policy, may call an all-party meeting soon to discuss the issue.
“The chief minister recently hinted that he might call an all-party meet on the draft policy,” Jharkhand deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi told FE. However, this could mean a little more delay in the announcement, he added.
When contacted, Sudhir Mahato, Jharkhand’s second deputy chief minister, too confirmed that the government was indeed looking forward to call an all-party meeting “within the next few days”.
The Jharkhand has been working on the R&R policy since September 2005.
A six-member empowered committee comprising Marandi; HRD, arts, culture & sports minister Bandhu Tirkey; land reforms, land revenue and cooperative minister Dulal Bhuiyan; industries and forest minister Sudhir Mahato; and Congress leaders
Pradip Kumar Balmuchu and Miyal Tirkey had submitted its recommendations to the chief minister around two-and-a-half months back.
Marandi, also in charge of the finance ministry, said an all-party meet would be a better option at this stage as the Opposition too would get an opportunity to express their views and opinions.
Marandi, who represents the Jharkhand Jan Morcha (JJM), one of the smaller constituents of the UPA government in the state, said his party as well as others have started putting pressure on the government for an early announcement of the R&R policy.