Birsa Munda’s kin urge Rajnath to give them jobs, land

RANCHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday met family members of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda in his native village Ulihatu, 70 km from Ranchi.

The meeting with Munda’s family was the first by a Union home minister, and comes under the Narendra Modigovernment’s recently launched ‘Yaad Karo Qurbani’, a nationwide campaign to remember freedom fighters ahead of the 70th Independence Day.

Neglected for 69 years after independence, the family members demanded jobs and land for themselves and other villagers as Rajnath enquired about their well-being. Sukhram Munda, Lakhi Munda, Kanu Munda and Champa Munda complained about problems they faced.

One of the family members Susharan Purti left studies after intermediate due to financial problems. Another youth Paulis Munda had completed ITI but has not got a job yet.

Sukhram Munda, Birsa’s grandson, demanded that he be provided land for house in Khunti town as his land in the village had been taken away for the construction of a stadium.

Villagers said that though the village has witnessed construction of government buildings, people still lived in the huts. They also complained about lack of health care facilities and electricity in the village and poor education standard among youths.

Students of Birsawasi school rued the lack of teachers and power supply. “Our dreams of being successful in life getting lost due to the problems,” said Lakhan Munda, a class 9 student.

Chief minister Raghubar Das, who was also present, promised that his government would build pucca houses with power connection and water supply for all the 71 families living in the village.

Das said five youths of Munda’s family would be taken as assistants to police, and after three years, they would be recruited formally into the police service. Former chief minister Arjun Munda, who was also present, said though many development works have been done, several measures were still required in the village.

ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS SUSHARAN PURTI LEFT STUDIES AFTER INTERMEDIATE DUE TO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS