As he completed two years of being in power-in coalition with JD(U),Jharkhand Mukti Morcha(JMM) and All Jharkhand Students Union(AJSU)-today,Arjun Munda remained busy reviewing the development works carried out by various Departments.Asked if he was satisfied with the report card during his third stint as chief minister,and pat came the answer in the negative.
“I am never satisfied with what I do”,he replied.”One thing however can be said is that we have made efforts to take the state forward in power,road,education,health and welfare sectors.Lots of things remain to be done.We will try to complete them as soon as possible.”
A close look at Munda’s performance will reveal that he led a coalition comprising mercurial leaders such as JMM president Shibu Soren,his son and Deputy CM Hemant and another Deputy CM Sudesh Mahato,managed to take them along, and provided political stability in this state where the President’s rule was imposed three times during the past five years essentially due to the fractured mandate in the Assembly polls in 2005 and 2009.
And as such,establishing the democratic process and taking the state on the path of development were his notable achievement.Other achievements listed by the Public Relations Department include:construction of 97 bridges,widening and strengthening of 5445 km roads at a cost of Rs 3935 crore,on the spot inspection of highways under the Chief Minister’s on going campaign-Sarkar Apke Dwar(Government at your door step)-,building 311 km Govindpur-Sahebgunj and 67.8 km long Chaibasa-Kandra-Saraikela road,inauguration of airport project for Deoghar,adoption of industrial policy,commissioning of Ajay Barage irrigation scheme,on line marketing of JHARCRAFT handicraft products in seven countries,purchase of paddy worth Rs 430 crore from farmers,signing of MoU with Power Grid Corporation for setting up of transmission network,prohibition on sale and purchase of Gutkha,introduction of e-tenders,file tracking system and e panchayat scheme to bring transparency and accountability in the state administration and transfer of financial power to panchayat bodies across the state.
Also,the Re one per kg rice to 34 lakh BPL families,launch of Bhat-Dal scheme providing full meal at Rs five,kick starting of the Mukhya Mantri Laxmi Ladli yojna handing over cash incentives to girl child and appointment of 1233 teachers and 387 doctors are other achievements being cited by the Munda administration.Though the yojna was started in Madhya Pradesh,more than 3000 parents of the girl child had benifitted from it since November 15,2011.
“We have lots of works to do.At the very outset,we have asked all heads of departments to have their websites updated on a daily basis so that the government’s business is made transparent,accountable and smart.Very soon,most highways will be smooth,ring road will be ready and the state will become a power hub with private investors generating 17,000 MWs by 2014-15”,said Munda.
While that may happen,there were many unfulfilled promises.For instance,on November 15,2011 last year, Munda had announced that his government will introduce power reforms to make Jharkhand a zero power cut state.Although he had held a number of meetings to unbundle the loss making and corruption infested Jharkhand State Electricity Board,power cuts continue.The Electricity Act,2003 is yet to be implemented.