Finally, govt identifies Jhikpani plot for veteran of Indo-Pak war

Ranchi: West Singbhum-based 1971 Indo-Pak war veteran, Podna Balmuchu’s wait for a five-acre plot promised by the government about five decades ago is expected to end soon if all goes well.
West Singhbhum administration has zeroed in on a site in Kudahatu village and is currently conducting the required processes to finally send the proposal to the state government for approval and allotment, officials said on Sunday.
Talking to TOI, circle officer of Jhikpani area, Anup Kachchap, said, “We finished the process of holding gram sabha on Saturday according to norms and are currently waiting for minutes of the meeting signed by Manki munda (head of the gram sabha) to be able to send it to the government for approval. The district administration is working on this case on priority basis.”
Sources in the local administration, however, said a section of villagers is apprehensive on allotment of such a large chunk of land to one individual citing limited availability of land in the region. “A few villagers are apprehensive about land scarcity if in case it is required for any development projects. But we will go with the final say of the gram sabha,” said another official, who was involved with the task of conducting a gram sabha for this purpose.
Last month, TOI had highlighted Podna’s plight of waiting endlessly to get the land which was promised for his service to the nation during the Indo-Pak war. He also undertook a padyatrata to Ranchi from Chaibasa to draw the government’s attention after which chief minister Hemant Soren called him to his office. Soren assured him speedy resolution while directing the district administration to provide the land on priority basis.
The 80-year old ex-sepoy, currently a resident of Jhikpani block, had served in many sensitive areas such as J&K, Tripura and Manipur during his over 12-year stint with the army before he chose to take voluntary retirement in 1975 due to temporary disability in his right thigh. Despite taking a bullet, he continued to serve during the war.