Jharkhand Statehood Veterans Voice Discontent on Silver Jubilee
As Jharkhand celebrated 25 years of its formation this Saturday, the veterans who fought for separate statehood expressed deep dissatisfaction with successive state governments for failing to meet their expectations. Despite attending the silver jubilee Statehood Day celebrations at Dhanbad's Town Hall, these freedom fighters of the statehood movement lamented that their sacrifices have not been adequately recognized or compensated.
Inadequate Pension Sparks Outrage Among Veterans
The movement veterans revealed they are receiving only Rs 3,500 as monthly pension, an amount they describe as insufficient to meet their basic needs. Jagat Mahto, one of the prominent veterans, voiced his concerns saying the pension should have been raised to at least Rs 10,000 by now given the current economic conditions and their contributions to the state's formation.
Another veteran, Hafizuddin Ansari, made an even stronger demand, calling for the pension to be increased to Rs 15,000 per month. He emphasized that this amount is necessary to ensure dignified living for the veterans and provide them with better medical facilities as they age.
Government Response and Future Prospects
Dhanbad deputy commissioner Aditya Ranjan, who was present at the celebration event, acknowledged the veterans' demands. He assured that their request for a pension hike would be forwarded to the state government for proper consideration and review.
Ranjan also announced that beyond government hospitals, private health facilities would be encouraged to provide priority treatment to the movement veterans. This commitment represents a step toward addressing the healthcare concerns raised by the aging veterans who sacrificed for Jharkhand's creation.
The disappointment among the statehood veterans casts a shadow over the silver jubilee celebrations, highlighting the unmet promises and ongoing struggles of those who fought for Jharkhand's separate identity a quarter century ago.
