RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 10: The State government today expressed its commitment to recover Rs 2500 crore of over 3 lakh investors who invested their hard-earned money in Sahara Insurance Company.
State finance minister Rameshwar Oraon expressed the commitment of the government sharing the steps taken by his department so far to recover the amount. The situation came after BJP legislator Naveen Jaiswal attracted the attention of the government towards the pain of the poor investors of the state.
Dr Oraon, who became a politician after more than 30 years of his job as a police officer, said two letters were written to the Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) since the government came into power.
“In a letter, SEBI informed that an amount of Rs 24000 crore is lying in the Sahara refund account and will be paid once the Supreme Court gives direction. In another letter, SEBI informed that an amount of Rs 81.70 crore has been refunded to investors across the country,” Oraon said while expressing the government’s desire to recover the amount.
Oraon said that he was very serious about the matter as among the investors there are several from his locality whom he personally knows and can understand their pain.
As Oraon gave the assurance, the legislator expressed his gratitude saying it will be of great help for 65000 Sahara employees also who are facing problems following pressure from investors.
Earlier, attention of the government on the issue of non-compliance of the high court order in the matter of encroachment of Kanchi Canal land by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), non- payment of salary to university teachers in accordance with the recommendation of sixth and seventh pay commission was also attracted in the house and the government responded positively in the matter.
Other important issues in the house included the withdrawal of online land record search, verification system and certified copy issuance system by the state government. BJP legislator Biranchi Narayan raised the issue saying withdrawal of the service has given rise to the loot of land and it should be started immediately while the government said the system was withdrawn observing the revenue loss and violation of the privacy of landowners. The government, however, assured to start the system with some modification to ensure that the government does not face any revenue loss and privacy of landowners remains protected.
Ajsu legislator Sudesh Kumar Mahto raised the demand of freedom fighter status for those who fought for the separation of Jharkhand from Bihar. Other issues raised included land paper to those who were displaced by power project of Damodar Valley Corporation established in 1952, appointment of teachers at minority schools, status of fund utilization given by World Bank for Tejaswini Scheme, proper implementation of Forest Right Act, increase of grant given to 23 Sanskrit Schools in Jharkhand, removal of Bhokta from the list of scheduled caste, police atrocity in Chandankiyari, the appointment of ‘corrupt’ officer Bimal Kumar Jha in the water resources department and minimization of water connection charge to benefit poor and farmers besides others