THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, March 17: Under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, the Netarhat Mukhiya in Latehar district Ram Bishun Nagesia, 32, is on his 6-day ‘exposure tour’ of Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh had earlier 3,615 gram panchayats which is now left with only 3,572 gram panchayats following 43 gram panchayats becoming urban local bodies.
Nagesia comes from the PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group). He is an I.Sc and ITI pass fellow.
Exposure tour under Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
The Ministry of the Panchayati Raj runs this exposure tour under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, shortened form RGSA.
It was in the Union Budget of 2016-17 that the Government of India had come out with this RGSA to strengthen the Panchayati Raj institution.
Nagesia is one among the 29 such mukhiyas in Jharkhand who are in this exposure tour.
As the 6-day ‘exposure tour’ begins on/from March 17 to 22, Nagesia was out of Netarhat and on his way to Ranchi today when this correspondent succeeded in speaking to him.
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Nagesia’s selection based on waste management initiatives
On being asked as to how and why he was selected for this tour, he said, “My Netarhat panchayat is working on waste management. Our panchayat has got 1.33 acres of land for waste disposal management.”
“Our panchayat has a fleet of 26 Safai Mitras. We have two garbage transport vans also,” added the Mukhiya.
Again, asked about the utility of such an exposure tour to which Nagesia said, “I will try to explore as to how my Netarhat Panchayat becomes self-reliant and self-dependent. Our own revenue generation capacity is to be set up and strengthened.”
He said, “I know there are many panchayats in the country which are self aided. These panchayats earn a lot of money from their own existing resources. I want to do the same thing for my panchayat Netarhat.”
Revenue generation through boating in Netarhat
Reminded that there is a Netarhat Talab where boating and fishing can bring a lot of revenue for this panchayat to which Nagesia said, “We generate a good income from boating. We have around a dozen pedal boats. We have one motorboat. Motor boat is basically a rescue boat.”
Seven tribal boys of the Netarhat Panchayat are catering to boating services to the tourists, and they are earning good money, he added.
It’s boating that is our prime focus. We will try to expand our operations in revenue generation on return from Himachal Pradesh, said the primitive tribal mukhiya.
A PRD note of the Latehar district administration quoted DC Latehar Utkarsh Gupta as saying “Netarhat Panchayat Mukhiya has done Latehar proud. He will be a motivational force for other mukhiyas to better their panchayats.”
