Memo to DC by BKM on underdevelopment

SILCHAR, Nov 25: Even after 63 years of Independence, remote villages like Kalinagar, Naitheng, Bijung, Tulpi, Digli, Shonpur, Ladibasti, Brain Nagar, Mahalthal, Phaizel etc. are still leading isolated lives due to lack of proper implementation of welfare schemes. This was stated in a memorandum submitted to the Cachar Deputy Commissioner by the members and supporters of the Bharatiya Krishak Mahasamiti (BKM) today.

BKM activists also staged a dharna in front of the Cachar Deputy Commissioner’s office demanding road connectivity for the remote villages, elimination of irregularities in the implementation of National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (NREGS) and others.

The BKM leaders pointed out in the memorandum that the people living in the rural areas were deprived of the benefits of various welfare schemes and that their socioeconomic condition was very bad. This is due to rampant corruption going on at the implementation stage of various welfare schemes formulated by the government, the memorandum stated.

The BKM further said in the memorandum that the tribal-dominated villages have a lot of potential to produce cash crops by cultivating rubber, pineapple, betel nut as well as orange instead of going for the traditional jhum cultivation which damages the ecology. The areas falling under Jaipur-Rajabazar block have no road links till date, the memorandum stated. Moreover, the public distribution system in the remote areas is in a pathetic state and absence of ration cards and job cards during this situation of price rise is worsening the living condition of the rural masses, the memorandum added.

BKM activists have, therefore, demanded immediate construction of roads, provisions for drinking water facility, a 30-bedded hospital, incentives for horticulture, free distribution of fertilizers, seeds, agriculture inputs, irrigation arrangements, enhancement of daily wages for man-days and issue of ration cards as well as job cards to all eligible persons of target groups.

The memorandum was signed by Birendra Burman, Jeevan Burman, Manilal Burman, Remling Hmar and others. THE SENTINEL