RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Nov.23: Tribal welfare commissioner (TWC) Naman Priyesth Lakra has sought information from Ranchi deputy commissioner (DC) into the matter of demolition of under construction boundary wall for the campus of Eklavya Residential Model School (EMRS) at Chanho.
Lakra informed this to lagatar24.com saying Ranchi is the only place across the state from where the information of dispute over the construction site is coming.
“State will have as many as 92 EMRS in the days to come. Out of 92, 23 are under the old plan while 69 are under the new plan. Out of 23 under the old plan, seven have been developed and are running, four likely to get completed within three to four months while remaining 12 is under process of development,” TWC, Lakra, who is also nodal officer of EMRS, said.
“Work on the old plan is being done by Jharkhand Building Construction Corporation while development of 69 new agencies has been decided by the union government. Except Chanho, we did not receive any information regarding any problem thus we have sought a report from the deputy commissioner,” Lakra added.
According to some sources, there is some problem in land acquisition in Simdega too. On this, Lakra said: “Nature of the problem is different. There is no dispute but some problem with the nature of land is taking place. Agency wants plain land while at present stony land has been demarcated. It will be sorted out soon.”
Meanwhile, Ranchi district administration has taken serious note of yesterday’s incident of demolishing the boundary wall. It has registered an FIR against 34 people at Chanho police station in the matter. The administration observed that the agitators not only violated the Covid protocol but also obstructed the government project. However, so far no one has been arrested.
Legislator of the concerned spot, Bandhu Tirkey, refused to be contacted in the matter saying those behind demolition of the wall be contacted for the comment. A locality resident said among those who were not in favour of EMRS at Chanho is Deo Kumar Dhan, who had contested assembly election as a BJP candidate from Mandar constituency but was defeated by Tirkey.
When contacted Dhan to know if he was involved in the demolition, he said ‘no’ but at the same time he admitted that he is not in favour of EMRS at the place presently demarcated.
“Construction site is the memorial of tribal icon Veer Budhu Bhagat and it will not be proper to have EMRS there,” Dhan said.
On asking Dhan what is wrong in having school there, he said: “Will anyone allow school at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. No one thinks properly before demarcating a place for a project.”
Asked whether he can tell about the group behind the demolition of the boundary wall he said: “The way Hindu demolished Babri Mosque in Ayodhya for Ram Temple, tribal society demolished the wall. It is difficult to identify who one is.”
EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas in order to enable them to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors.
The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students.
Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII. Hitherto, grants were given for construction of schools and recurring expenses to the State Governments under Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution.
In order to give further impetus to EMRS, it has been decided that by the year 2022, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an EMRS.
