Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today attended the Independence Day celebrations in a Mahadalit locality in Patna district where he distributed papers for three decimal land to 30 landless families for construction of houses.
Soon after unfurling the national flag at the historic Gandhi Maidan here, he visited Chiraiyatand Mushari tola in Neura panchayat, where a Mahadalit elder Baleshwar Manjhi hoisted the tricolour in his presence.
The Chief Minister then dedicated a new cement road to the villagers and distributed papers for ownership of three decimal land to 30 landless Mahadalit families and also gave away cheques to some beneficiaries under schemes for marriage of girls and family benefit.
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Speaking on the occasion, Manjhi hailed his predecessor Nitish Kumar for encouraging the Mahadalit and other poor people to celebrate national events like the Independence Day by joining them at such celebrations in their habitats.
Manjhi, who himself hails from a Mahadalit community, called upon the participants to send their children to schools so that they could take proper education and find employment.
The state government has launched a number of schemes like free distribution of books, mid-day meal, scholarship, bicycle and uniforms to children of deprived sections of the society so that they could go to schools, he said.
The Chief Minister also urged the women in the community to take initiative in persuading their men to abstain from liquor addictions.
It may be mentioned that former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had started the practice of celebrating Independence Day with Mahadalits in 2010 to encourage the deprived and poor people and to integrate them with the mainstream of the society.
