Remote Rajadera enjoys tap water

RAJADERA: The residents of remote tribal hinterland - Rajadera under Chainpur block - are jubilant after using tap water for the first time under the Har Ghar Jal Yojna.
Though most of the households have toilets, this was made possible despite its remote location, once a Maoist hotbed and lacking mobile network.
Located 88 km from the district town of Gumla and lying in the lap of picturesque hills of undulating sal and chir forests, Rajadera was once the summer camp of Ratu Maharaja who used to visit here along with his queen for leisure, villagers said. The place got its name for being the summer capital of king, they added.
"These days, Naxalites do not come to our village and development has taken place," said Surendra Oraon, a villager.
The women are ecstatic that they do not have to trudge miles to fetch water. "We are getting water in our houses which is so vital for us. Else, we had to go down to fetch water from streams," said intermediate passout Silwati Toppo. "There are five jal minar (water towers) in the village," added another villager Dayamani Oraon, adding, "We will not face a water crisis now."
As water is available, most of the residents here use government-made toilets, shunning open defecation. "A lot of people use these toilets," Surendra said.
Asked about other development works and welfare measures, the villagers said there has been some progress. "The hamlet has 200 feet long paved road leading to the village church. And 100 feet more has been proposed," said a village youth, Amardeep Bara.
On PDS ration, Sudhir Munda, another villager, said, "We get ration but have to travel some distance."
"One new anganwadi centre is under construction in the village which will be completed within two weeks," said Chainpur BDO Shishir Kumar Singh.