Supaul, A representative. A general meeting of the Panchayat Samiti concluded on Monday at the MNREGA office auditorium in Chhatapur block, presided over by Block Head Aashiya Devi. The meeting began with the confirmation of previous proceedings, followed by a stormy question-and-answer session. Members vociferously raised issues related to various public welfare schemes, including agriculture, electricity, revenue, health, education, child development, and encroachment.

BDO Dr. Rakesh Gupta informed that 83 percent of eligible families in the block possess ration cards. The process of issuing ration cards to the remaining eligible beneficiaries is underway, with a target of creating 4,000 new ration cards, of which 1,400 applications have been received so far. Regarding encroachment along roadsides, the BDO stated that action was scheduled for May 18 but could not be carried out due to the unavailability of police force. A proposal will be sent to the sub-divisional administration requesting police force. He warned that those who re-encroach after removal would face action under Section 126.

Farmers' issues also led to considerable uproar in the meeting. Mukhiyas Kishore Kumar Munna (Laxmipur Khunti), Mahanand Prasad Yadav (Udhampur), Shambhu Kumar Singh (Chunni), and Panchayat Samiti members Bimal Jha, Rajkumar Singh, Savitri Devi, among others, alleged that urea and DAP fertilizers were being sold at prices much higher than the fixed rates. They demanded action against the Block Agriculture Officer (BAO). Delays in providing electricity to every field and departmental arbitrary practices were also raised, with allegations of illegal collection by contractor staff. Members also discussed issues such as water scarcity in canals, delays in shifting bus stands, pending payments under the Kabir Antyeshti and Kanya Vivah schemes. Concerns were also expressed about erosion in the Geda and Sursar rivers. Panchayat Samiti member Savitri Devi from Katahra Panchayat alleged that she had not received a single scheme during her tenure, while Rajkumar Singh accused discrimination in scheme allocation. The meeting was attended by CO Raviraj, SHO Pramod Jha, Deputy Head Sanjay Yadav, along with officials from various departments and public representatives.