Authorise gram sabhas to dole transit passes: Jogi to CM

Raipur, August 22, 2012

enior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi has demanded from Chief Minister Raman Singh to authorise gram sabhas to distribute transit passes.

Jogi’s demand came in the form of a letter in which he cited the letter written by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh to the CM urging to give right to the gram sabhas to distribute transit passes.

“In his letter, Ramesh had mentioned that the idea was implemented in Maharashtra’s Garhchiroli district on experimental basis and the result was tremendous with improvement in financial condition of local tribals. Ramesh said that the tribals of Chhattisgarh can also get similar benefits if the gram sabhas would be empowered with right to dole out transit passes,” Jogi wrote.

“The bamboo jungles in Chhattisgarh have spread in large tracts of lands. Unfortunately, Maoism expanded rapidly in these areas. If the state government would accept Ramesh’s proposal then it would not only be able to strengthen socio-economic condition of the local tribals but would also succeed in debilitating the naxals,” Jogi said.