14 cases were reviewed in the weekly 'CM Jansambad' program

Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sunil Kumar Barnwal has directed officials to expedite the settlement of several long-pending public grievances, including unpaid insurance, pension, scholarships, drought relief and compensation claims.

Barnwal reviewed 14 cases during the weekly review meeting of the Jansamvad Kendra at Suchna Bhawan and instructed the concerned departments to take time-bound action on the complaints.

In one of the cases, Barnwal expressed concern that the wife of Assistant Engineer Gopal Hari Prasad, who had been posted in Godda, had not received insurance, pension and other financial benefits even one-and-a-half years after his death. He directed the department to settle the matter and ensure payment by the following Monday.

The Principal Secretary also reviewed complaints related to scholarships that had remained unpaid for nearly three years. He instructed the concerned department to release the pending scholarship amounts to all eligible students without further delay.

In another case, the disability pension of Puja Kumari from Deoghar had reportedly been pending for around a year. Barnwal directed officials to process and release the pension at the earliest.

Farmers in Amjhar village of Dhanbad also raised a long-pending issue concerning drought relief. Despite the village being declared drought-affected during 2015-16, the affected farmers had not received the relief amount. Officials informed the meeting that one farmer's application had been rejected by the Baliyapur Circle Officer due to an error in the application. Barnwal ordered an inquiry and directed the department to resolve the matter within a month.

On the lack of a boundary wall at Aadim Janjati Seva Mandal High School in Durnadaga, Barnwal instructed officials to begin construction work immediately after approval of the proposal from the United Fund.

He also sought a report on the failure to operationalise a deep-boring water supply project in Karudih village of Dumka. The deep boring was completed by the Dumka Land Conservation Office in March 2017, but a motor had not yet been installed, leaving villagers without the intended water supply. Barnwal summoned the concerned departmental officer to his office with a detailed report.

The meeting also reviewed the case of a tribal hospital at Mananchotag near Latehar railway station. Although construction of the hospital was completed in 2007, the facility had still not started functioning. The department's nodal officer informed the meeting that an agency was being selected to operate the hospital and that services were expected to begin within two to three months.

Another case involved Chhatarpal Oroan, who was allegedly killed by Naxalites in Chatra on August 22, 2014. His family had applied for compensation and a government job for the dependents through the Gumla Deputy Commissioner's office, but the benefits had not yet been provided.

The Gumla nodal officer said the settlement had remained pending because the body was allegedly taken away by the Naxalites, making it impossible to produce a post-mortem report. Barnwal said that if the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police confirm that Oroan was killed by Naxalites, his dependents should be provided the applicable compensation and employment benefits. He added that such cases were being placed before the state Cabinet for consideration.

The meeting also took up the issue of fourth-grade employees at the ANM School in Simdega who had not received their dues since 2017. The department informed officials that the outstanding payments would be cleared within five days.

Ramakant Singh, Joint Secretary in the Chief Minister's Secretariat, directed the department to submit a compliance report after making the payments.

The review reflects the state government's attempt to use the Jansamvad mechanism to track unresolved grievances and push departments towards time-bound disposal of cases involving government benefits and public services.