Though Jharkhand was carved out in the year 2000, it took about one-and-a-half decades for the state to get its first-ever majority-led N.D.A. dispensation headed by Jharkhand’s first non-tribal Chief Minister Raghubar Das who was an employee of Tata Steel prior to entering the political arena. In 1980, he joined the B.J.P. as a founding member and was elected to the Bihar Assembly in 1995 from Jamshedpur East, which he continues to represent. In 2004, he was appointed as the saffron party’s state president. Mr. Das also served as minister. In 2009, he held the office of deputy chief minister and finally in 2014 he became Jharkhand’s tenth Chief Minister.
In an exclusive interview to U.N.I. Ranchi’s Chief of Bureau Binay Kumar and Senior Reporter Abhishek Kumar, Mr. Das dwells on his policies, plans and vision.
Q: You oft quote your objective as making politics a medium of transformation. In the past approximately 18 months of your tenure what changes that became visible in Jharkhand?
A: I have joined politics to bring about change. That is my mission. I do not wish to either make tall statements or speak untruth, I rather believe in taking all stakeholders together on the path of progress.
Q: What are the expectations of three-and-a-half-crore people?
A: While a separate state was being carved out, the people had a dream that their state should be prosperous, developed and self-sufficient. My purpose is that the standard of living of all sections of society – including the poverty-stricken, tribal folk, minorities and the backwards -- be substantially enhanced.
Q: How far has your government been able to satisfy the populace?
A: The question would be best answered by the people themselves. I must mention that the B.J.P.’s vote share recorded a tremendous increase in the Godda and Panki by-elections compared to the 2014 Assembly polls. This constitutes the seal of approval from the public vis-à-vis the regime’s style of functioning. The masses have begun reaping benefits of schemes and work done by the dispensation and the populace’s faith in the government increased.
Q: Major innovations, such as a single-window system for agriculture, have played the role of torchbearers for other states. Are there any others in the pipeline?
A: We are going to establish panchayat secretariats at village panchayats, which would prove helpful for mukhiyas and assist in management of policies and schemes to be formulated for rural development. Under the 14th Finance Commission's recommendations, Premier Narendra Modi ensured that surplus funds are sanctioned for developing villages. The secretariats will look into management of these funds and make certain that every single paisa is judiciously utilised. We have made it compulsory to hold gram sabha meetings every month. The income from auctioning balu ghats and other sources shall come into the panchayats’ accounts and people will also be made aware regarding the funds and how they are being utilised. The regime has commenced on a programme to make sure that villages’ water remains in the villages through creation of one lakh farm ponds. Another 2,000 ponds would be dug. Further, for urban areas rooftop water harvesting is being implemented.
Q: It’s said that people had lost confidence long back in the government but that has since returned during your regime. How are you proceeding further in this context?
A: A dispensation should be such that it thinks about the people, is of the people, listens to them and lives for them. The government should be for the poor, the farmers, the marginalised and the downtrodden and our regime is for them. Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya emphasised on development of the last person on the lowest social rung. Our dispensation is working on the path laid by the forefathers to make certain that the have-nots have smiles on their countenances.
Q: Information Technology hub, power hub, tourism hub, sports hub etc are being discussed. How are you going to achieve these?
A: In the past 15 months, radical changes were effected in the state’s labour laws. Environment-related legislation was simplified and that helped boost investors’ confidence. If investors do not get security and profit then they would shy away therefore laws were amended so that they do not have to go from one office to another to obtain approvals for projects. We have a single-window system for industries. The state occupies third position in the Ease of Doing Business Index, however we intend to do much better to draw more investors and create employment for youth. In the near future, the state is going to establish the Raksha Shakti University and the Technical University while a partner has been roped in for setting up a sports university. Moreover Jharkhand is not only known for mineral resources but also for its rich cultural heritage therefore the regime is committed to preserving the culture and promoting tourist destinations such as Maluti, Deoghar and Parasnath.
Q: Transparency and responsibility at all levels comprise your mantra. How is it making this resource-rich state the preferred destination for investment?
A: Two years back, the country and the state were in the grip of graft and scams. In the past 15 months, the state dispensation has not been in the news for the wrong reasons, which helped create impact in Jharkhand’s favour. The Modi-led government has been clean in every aspect and that enhanced India’s prestige across the globe. The Prime Minister is working with vision on a mission; the nation has been making rapid progress in every sector during the past couple of years. The people’s faith in the Premier increased and was reflected in the outcome of the recent Assembly elections.
Q: You achieved the Herculean task of announcing a new domicile policy. No other party in the state, despite being in power, managed to take a final stand on this hypersensitive issue. How did you succeed?
A: For their vested interests, the opposition parties desired to keep the issue alive and carry on with vote bank politics over it. Instead of solving the matter they created further problems. The people want work; however, selfish politicians and parties denied job opportunities for the adivasis and themoolvasis. By announcing the policy we helped the youth realise their dreams. The policy was formulated after consulting all stakeholders including political parties, social organisations and intellectuals.
Q: What efforts are being made to ensure that the rule of law prevails? What specific directives have been issued?
A: It shall be the responsibility of the police stations in-charge and superintendents to maintain law and order. In every area, responsibilities have been fixed and targets defined. The law and order situation improved and Naxalism-related incidents declined sharply.
Q: How has the Pradhan Mantri M.U.D.R.A. Yojana emerged as a game changer in people’s lives?
A: To make people of the state get rid of moneylenders and render the former economically sound, the Yojana is being run in the state. Loans totalling Rs. 200 cr. have been distributed among 1.14 lakh beneficiaries. The government plans to create small-scale industrial units in villages with the help of M.U.D.R.A. banks. Those earlier seeking employment are now employers.