Babulal Marandi: Friendly face

Ranchi, Nov. 18: Desperate to dispel doubts over his ability to deliver, chief minister Babulal Marandi has hit upon a novel plan to woo people and project a “positive image”.

On Marandi’s direction, the state’s development department is busy compiling a list of welfare schemes to be highlighted among the masses. It will be published as a booklet titled the Citizens’ Charter and will available at every district and block-level government offices.

Marandi recently admitted that his greatest failure in his two-year tenure was his inability to convince the masses that he had the “guts” to take decisions and that he was not guided by a coterie of close aides.

Development secretary Mahavir Prasad told The Telegraph that the “Citizen's Charter” would apprise the people of their rights and the benefits they can reap from the state government schemes.

According to chief minister Babulal Marandi, a majority of welfare schemes are unknown to the masses and even if they are aware, they are trapped by middlemen, who hijack the lion’s share of government grants.

“As grants for many schemes remain unused, the chief minister believes that spreading awareness will result in proper implementation of the schemes and curtail the sway of touts,’’ Prasad said. The government has a number of schemes right from giving grants up to Rs 1.5 lakh in cases of cancer and brain operation to Rs 2 lakh under the Scheduled Caste/Tribe Atrocities Act besides schemes for building houses, scholarships for students and sportspersons and legal aid for the poor. The welfare department alone runs 78 schemes for variety of purposes that people need to know of.

The booklet aimed at sidelining the middlemen will be published within 10 days. The brochure listing details of different schemes for application forms and other details would be distributed among the masses and kept at all the government offices, especially those that run the welfare schemes.

The booklet would also have details if photographs are needed to apply for a particular scheme and a recommendations from local representative or verification from government officials is required.

Prasad said most of the welfare schemes failed to take off because the beneficiaries were unaware of them. “This happens because the schemes are not well-publicised. Most of the schemes are publicised through newspapers that is confined to the literate classes.’’