JMM minister from Tundi Mathura Mahto

Dhanbad, Jan. 10: The coal belt, especially Tundi, is ecstatic over Mathura Prasad Mahto’s inclusion in Shibu Soren’s cabinet even as a final call is yet to be taken on distribution of portfolios.

The JMM leader and second-time Tundi MLA, on his part, promised all-round development of his constituency — the only Naxalite-affected constituency in Dhanbad — with specific focus on education. Mathura had defeated JVM(P) leader and former minister of united Bihar Saba Ahmad by a narrow margin of 70 votes in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

On the strategy to cope with the Maoist menace, Mathura who is also known as Boroda among his family and friends, said jobs opportunities would be created for the youth to prevent them from getting lured by the rebels.

Recently, the Maoists had killed an assistant sub-inspector of Tundi police station and blasted an abandoned police picket at Maniadih. In another incident, the rebels had carried out blasts in the hills of Topchanchi on the first phase of elections on November 25.

“Jobs will be created for the youths of Tundi, both in government and unorganised sectors, through creation of self-help groups and allocation of different works to them,” said Mahto. “Engagement of youths in productive activities would also help check their migration to other places,” he added.

Regarding the government’s stand to hold talks with the Naxalites, he said though only the chief minister could take an initiative in this regard, he, at best, could check their growing influence in the region.

Mathura, who is the only representative from the Mahto community in the new cabinet, also promised to fulfil other long-pending demands of Dhanbad people, including setting up of a separate university and upgrading ISM into IIT. “A number of schools will be set up in different parts of the constituency,” Mathura said, adding that only proper education could bring change in the life of the people.

Tundi — having an electorate strength of about 23,000 — has only five high schools at Kolhar, Lachuraidih, Tundi proper, Mahrajganj and Tamadih. “The Adivasi Janjatiya Vidyalaya, which was being built at Palma but was destroyed by Maoists two years ago, will be reconstructed,” the JMM leader said.