Kalaiya, Bara : With the resonant motto, "Good Governance, Transparency, Accountability: Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City's Commitment," a public hearing unfolded today at the Ward Office Building in Baghawan, Ward No. 14. The event served as a vital platform for open dialogue between the local government and its citizens, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and progress.
Acting Mayor and Deputy Chief, Roshan Pravin, attentively addressed the diverse concerns raised by the community members. Her responses were delivered with a clear sense of dedication, particularly highlighting ongoing efforts in crucial areas like sanitation, education, and the advancement of agriculture and local farmers. She emphasized the municipality's renewed focus on the rural parts of Kalaiya, assuring residents that the development seen in urban areas would now extend to their communities.
A significant point of discussion was the long-awaited completion of the Manwat-Matirwa road, a project deeply cherished by the people of Kalaiya. Ms. Pravin expressed her confidence in the rapid progress being made, further noting that the gravel extracted from this project has been ingeniously utilized to create an alternative route via Khauraha, offering much-needed connectivity.
She also shared positive updates on the operational status of the new public toilets in the market area, the near completion of market sheds and the new administrative building, and the anticipated completion of the town hall. Throughout her address, Ms. Pravin maintained a direct and empathetic tone, directly addressing the specific questions posed by the attendees.
Echoing this sentiment, Chief Administrative Officer Nathu Sah acknowledged the global economic slowdown and its impact on the municipality's budget allocation. However, he reassured the community that Kalaiya is demonstrably progressing, attributing this positive trajectory to the collaborative efforts of the current elected officials and the engaged citizenry. He clarified the current limitations on immediate fund allocation due to new regulations, explaining the constraints on spontaneous project implementation.
In a poignant moment, Mr. Sah extended his condolences and informed the public that the municipality had already provided a support of one lakh rupees to the family of the electrician who tragically lost his life in a fall. He pledged further assistance as needed. He also touched upon the challenges posed by the decline in government revenue collection.
The public hearing provided a valuable space for residents to voice their specific grievances and needs. Bhuneshwar Prasad, a local resident, highlighted the severe irrigation challenges faced by farmers in the ward, the scarcity of fertilizers, and the persistent issues with the Imriti irrigation system. Shankar Yadav expressed his concern over the perceived lack of adequate support following the electrician's unfortunate demise.
Former teacher Ram Ayodhya Jaiswal voiced his dissatisfaction with the unresolved drainage problems in Ward No. 14 and the lack of proactive measures from the sub-metropolitan city to remove encroachments on Padam Road. A local leader and former Village Development Committee Chairman, Tayyab Ansari, leveled accusations of irresponsibility against both elected officials and employees.
The Headmaster of Bhavara Secondary School, Braj Kishore Mishra, passionately brought to light the plight of over a dozen students who were barred from exams due to the ward secretary's failure to issue their birth certificates. He lamented the local government's negligence regarding the school's lack of boundary walls and the encroachment upon school land by private constructions.
Gayatri Ray shared the daily struggles faced by students and teachers at the Laxminiya village school due to buffaloes being tethered on the access road. She also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the implementation of local projects, alleged favoritism in hand pump distribution, and the persistent drainage issues.
Shyam Mahato criticized the irregular presence of technical staff at the sub-metropolitan office, causing inconvenience to service seekers. He also questioned the necessity of recruiting an excessive number of city police personnel. Similarly, the non-joining of a transferred teacher, Sunita Das, at Baghawan Secondary School and the departure of another teacher, leaving two teaching positions vacant, was brought to the attention of the sub-metropolitan authorities.
Najabullah Ansari, the local governance expert of Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the purpose of the public hearing as a platform to assess the accessibility of services provided by the ward and the implementation of municipal projects. He underscored the crucial role of public hearings in fostering transparency, accountability, and democratic participation in the decision-making process.
The program witnessed the presence of Engineer Madhav Yadav, Ward No. 14 Chairman Surendra Prasad Jaiswal, ward members Rajkali Devi, Ramawati Devi, Prayag Thakur Hajam, and Rajkumar Jaiswal, Ward Secretary Ramnaresh Sah, Health Chief Mohammad Sajjad, Gayatri Gupta, Neha Giri, Lalita Chaudhary, and numerous concerned citizens.
The public hearing served as a powerful reminder of the importance of direct engagement between the governing body and the people it serves. It highlighted both the progress being made and the challenges that still need to be addressed, reinforcing the commitment towards good governance and a brighter future for Kalaiya.
