Please listen to a song written by People’s poet Jeetan Marandi from Jharkhand in adivasi language Khortha. His wife Aparna Maranadi sings it for us from Giridih district while Jeetan still langueshes in jail though court has acquitted him of all the charges of supporting Maoists. For translation of the song please call Aparna ji at 09771949885

Aparna Marandi from Pritand block of Giridih district in Jharkhand is telling us that there was no rain in the block this year so far and farmers have not even started rice transplanting and are very worried. She says in this block there is no irrigation facility and people migrate in search of work after 5/6 months which agriculture can sustain them. But in future if government created ponds and wells and made sure people get irrigation from these facilities then they can get two crops and they will not have to migrate. For more Aparna ji can be reached to 09771949885

Aparna Marandi from Giridih district of Jharkhand says in her village last year under NREGA work had started for making two ponds but after a year both remain incomplete and are not giving any help to any one. She says this is another example of faulty development projects. In future there should be rigorous checks in development works and the planning should be such that it helps maximum people. In this case the ponds should have been dug in a place where water can hold and there should also be a pump for taking water to farmer’s field. For more Aparna ji can be reached at 09771949885

Aparna Marandi from Giridih district of Jharkhand is telling us that monsoon has arrived long back but the health department is yet to wake up. Due to monsoon dirty water is getting filled up in wells and ponds. People are forced to drink the same dirty water and are getting diarrohea and malaria. She is requesting the state health department to send bleaching powder and spray DDT as they used to do before asap. For more Aparna ji can be reached at 09771949885

Simga Gram Panchayat in Tirdah block of Giridih district in Jharkhand is a remote area surrounded by hills and forests. Aparna Marandi is visiting there today and tells us that thanks to Rajiv Gandhi rural electrification mission villagers have got electricity around 6 months back but the electricity never comes in the night. Sometimes during the day the power comes but it goes off as soon as the night falls. If Govt has spent so much for people then they should also ensure that poor people gets its benefit. For more Marandi ji can be reached at 09771949885