Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, July 12
Pandemonium broke out at the 4, King George Avenue here on Monday morning when a pandemic infected complainant reached the Chief Minister, Niish Kumar’s Janata Darbar.
The weekly Janata Darbar was revived by Nitish Kumar after 62 months to note down people’s grievances in different districts. Today, he heard grievances of people hit by working of excise, police, revenue departments.
A youth after being screened by the magistrate and entrance of 4, KG Avenue reached the Darbar and sat opposite the chair of the Chief Minister. When Nitish asked about his problem, he said: “Humko Black Fungus ka lakshan hai (I have symptoms of Black Fungus).” He alleged he was not given treatment in the hospitals.
The Chief Minister asked, “Kisko hai black fungus (Who is down with black fungus)?” When the complainant admitted he was suffering, the Chief Minister became alert and asked the security personnel to take him to the health department officials for treatment.
Nitish Kumar had another complainant from Bakhtiyarpur, where the Chief Minister had his schooling. Mamta Kumari, who had come with her problem for a job, said she lost her Jiyutiya mala (a garland seeking assurance to protect Son). She claimed she had come to the Darbar with the garland, but found it lost when she entered the room where the chief minister was hearing grievances. A magistrate assured to locate her missing garland.
Nitish Kumar was visibly upset when he got complaints about non-payment of salaries to the Anganwadi workers for the last three years and denial of Students Credit Card. He asked the ministers present in the hall to immediately resolve the issues.
One student who had completed her Polytechnic told the chief minister she was not paid unemployment allowance (Rs 1,000 per month). He was moved with the tears rolling down the girl and asked the principal secretary to arrange payment without delay.
Only those with RTPCR tests were allowed to enter the Janata Darbar. Those coming from remote districts of North Bihar had overnight stay at Begusarai, Vaishali and Bihar sharif, where DMs of the districts concerned arranged food before sending them to CM Darbar on government vehicles. A team of 44 women from Begusaraiw as brought in a bus.
Nitish Kumar explained he had stopped the weekly Darbar in 2016 after the Bihar Right to Public Grievances Redressal Act,2016 came into effect and officers of sub-divisional level were appointed only to listen to the grievances of the people. According to the act, grievances were expected to be resolved within 60 days of filing of complaint.
The Chief Minister admitted the Act could not meet its purpose fully as many people could not approach the officers. He also said he came to know about the new problems today through conversation with the common men.
Janak Ram, mines minister who was also present at the Janata Darbar, said CM’s Darbar was necessitated because officers were not attending to the suggestions of even elected representatives.
