SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov.11: Pension holder Jharkhand movement leaders have demanded felicitation by the state government on the occasion of ‘Jharkhand Foundation Day on November 15.
Jharkhand movement leaders of Dhanbad today shot off a memorandum to chief minister Hemant Soren in this regard and urged him to felicitate the leaders at the state function of ‘Jharkhand Foundation Day’ celebration by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and provide the state honour posthumously to those who have died in past few years.
“Of course the government provides us pension on the basis of the jail term period but financial help is not everything for us. Felicitation by the state government on ‘Foundation Day’ at the district will recognize our contribution at the social level,” said Jagat Mahto, one of the movement leaders from Dhanbad.
Mahto in his memorandum has said that 52,000 applications have come for a pension from across the state. It would be in the interest of movement leaders if the state government appointed a commission that screens applications at the concerned district headquarters rather than sitting in Ranchi.
“Movement leaders appreciate the pension scheme that the government started for leaders who went to jail during agitation. Most of them are poor. So, they should be given rebates in travelling and treatment facilities in government as well as private hospitals in the state,” said Mahto, who was a close accomplice of late Binod Bihari Mahto, one of the founders of Jharkhand.
Separate state movement leaders have also requested the chief minister for directing the heads of all government departments to solve the problems of Jharkhand movement leaders.
