Of myths, misunderstandings and Munda’s Chatra visit

Two popular myths surround Chatra district. The first — Goddess Bhadrakali’s ancient temple in Itkhori has been protecting the area from natural and manmade ravage all these. The second is a perception that Chatra is part of a Welfare State.

A grand pre-Holi celebration was organised on Sunday night by former BJP MLA from Chatra to welcome Munda in the district, which he called one of the most challenging and critical in Jharkhand. The next day banned CPI (Maoist) gave a call for Jharkhand bandh.

Chatra which shuts down even at a mere rumour of a Maoists-called bandh, seemingly ignored the call on Monday. Chatra roads bore a deserted look in the morning but only till the CM’s noisy convoy passed through the Chatra-Itkhori road. Villages on the flanks flocked to see the passing cavalcade even asking Munda to spend few moments with them. They had meticulously planned to use these moments to submit handwritten petitions of their problems and demands.

The greater part of Chatra is an area of darkness and poverty, metaphorically and quite literally.

“The important thing to me is that there is an air of expectation. Overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and the way they came out despite call for bandh I decided to spend more time with them,” Munda told The Pioneer late on Monday evening at Giridih Circuit House.

Twice during select media briefing on Monday morning, Munda called Chatra as one of the most challenging areas of Jharkhand in terms of impact of Maoism and under-development.

“While, I have assigned my Ministers to supervise different districts, I personally felt I should look after Chatra. It is one of the critical and challenging districts. It is a big responsibility,” Munda said.

“I wanted to clear certain misunderstandings about Chatra that’s why I decided night stay here. I know they are under-developed. Development works have been started but it is not up to desired pace. Roads are not good,” he said.

The Balbal-Katkamsandi rutted road is the regular Jharkhandi nightmare. District officials have stopped or seldom visit interior areas where a visit is a kind of excursion into a living museum of the 18th century or thereabouts. Prosperity has taken a back seat for the cultivation of poppy, as Maoists have captured thousands of acres of land in the deep interiors of Lawalong and other parts, something that police and administration deny.

An awareness message to eradicate polio painted several monsoons ago in one of the villages in Itkhori, a forlorn foundation stone whose plaque was removed many years back, the poster of Vidya Balan of Dirty Picture-film pasted over a MNREGA wage-list; In these parts you can probably forgive them for thinking a starlet is more achievable than a daily wage!

“I have come to know that around 19 doctors have reported absent from their duty. Action will be taken against them. We need more doctors here. I have sought a detailed report of the requirements,” Munda said.

Block Development Officers of Kunda and Lawalong blocks have stopped visiting their block office out of Naxal fear; they now operate from safer area of Simariya. “That’s why I called Chatra a critical area. I am serious on these issues. I am not defending anybody,” Munda said.

Chatra consumes less energy because it has less power supply. The ambitious North Karnpura power project inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004 in Chatra was short-circuited by the Centre before it could produce even a unit.

“Centre first acquired lands and evicted people for the project and now says that power project is not feasible because the site have coal deposits. Either the Central Government starts the project or I will lead people’s demonstration in Delhi,” Munda said during inauguration of power grid at Itkhori.

Forget about any centre of excellence for education in Chatra — though Munda promised a model college soon — schools are in a dilapidated condition. “It is surprising that despite sanctions to  construct an extra 577 school rooms, the work has not been started. I am annoyed,” Munda told The Pioneer.

Before leaving for Giridih via road, Munda visited Bhadrakali temple. “I will visit Chatra again to see whether development work and welfare projects have been started or not,” he said.

That probably will be the third myth of Chatra!.