Empty chairs at the janata darbar of road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav at the BJP office in Patna on Friday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, April 15: The crowd outside chief minister Nitish Kumar’s official residence on janata darbar days is a proof that the concept, revived by him, has earned the trust of people of the state.

That Nitish is available and ready to attend to each and every complainant’s woes has, however, not worked in favour of other ministers who have borrowed the idea of organising janata darbars in their respective party offices.

The Telegraph observed this at a few janata darbars where the chairs kept for complainants remained vacant, as the ministers waited for more complainants to turn up with their grievances. Although the ministers maintained that the decline in the number of visitors is a result of the “quick redressal” of their woes by the department concerned, the claim falls flat if one visits the janata darbar at 1 Aney Marg.

When the concept of janata darbar was first revived, it became hugely popular among the residents as well as the ministers. There was a time when more people would wait for their turn to take a seat in the visitors’ room, as the crowd would be three times the seating arrangement.

Gradually the number started to dwindle and now the programme has become a mere formality or so it seems from the strength of the visitors at the offices.

Today, when road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav was holding his janata darbar at the BJP party office, only six complainants turned up to attend it.

About the reason behind the depleting number of visitors at his janata darbar, the minister said: “I think the problems of the complainants are being solved and this is the reason why the number of visitors has gone down. Now people don’t feel like coming to the janata darbar as the government is taking their problems very seriously and making sure they are solved. I think it’s a good sign that the number is declining.”

Day before yesterday, when animal husbandry and fisheries minister Giriraj Singh was holding his janata darbar, only five persons turned up with their complaints. The minister sat through the two hours (10am to 12pm), as is mandatory according to the rule made by Nitish, waiting for people to visit his office.

When The Telegraph asked the minister regarding the few number of complainants, Singh said: “You can’t say it’s a bad sign. Their problems must have been solved. They won’t visit us again with the same problem.”

A similar situation was witnessed at the janata darbar of rural development minister Nitish Mishra at the JD (U) party office where only six complainants turned up with their grievances.

Rupesh Yadav, a visitor from Bhagalpur at the JD (U) office, said, “I don’t think the minister sitting here will listen to our grievances properly. I don’t know how will he deal with the issue. It’s better to visit the chief minister’s janata darbar. There, the officials act faster in the presence of Nitish. Also, the presence of department officials and senior policemen boost our morale as everyone listens to what the chief minister says. But here, I don’t think our grievances would be addressed that effectively.”

Another complainant said: “The chief minister’s janata darbar is anytime a better option than these. Look at me, though I have come here, I will also visit the janata darbar at 1 Aney Marg. I am not satisfied with the assurance given by the minister. Chief minister’s janata darbar is more effective as compared to any other darbar.”

Every Monday, more than 2,000 complainants visit 1 Aney Marg with their grievances. Many have to return from the gate if they fail to get their name registered early in the day, between 7am and 11am. The latecomers don’t give up though. Once turned away, they make sure to visit the next janata darbar early in the day. A seven-day wait is still less time given the impact of the words of assurance from the chief minister.