Unique Id Cards in McCluskiegunj

Folks, 'Aadhaar Card', the Unique Id Card is being processed at McCluskiegunj. If you are aware of it, great! Else this is information.
Hurry as its not for long...

JANET ACADEMY

Hello folks!

On the 16^th of September the District Education Officer Sri Mahip Kumar Singh, came on an official visit to Hesalong to inspect this school named JANET ACADEMY. He was pleased with the whole set-up. He interviewed teachers, inspected the school library, labs, playground and the school building.. JA is on the verge of getting affiliation from the C.B.S.E..

JANET ACADEMY is another school after the DON BOSCO ACADEMY that has been providing quality education to locals as well as students from different parts of Bihar and Jharkhand.

Established by Mr. Manoj Gupta, this school is following the C,B.S.E. pattern of studies. There are around 700 students here that are locals and outsiders scattered and lodging at hostels started for DON BOSCO ACADEMY. There’s one hostel that caters only for JA and it is known as Excellent Hostel. This is run and managed by a staff member of JA known as Sri Lakshmi Prasad.

McCluskiegunj is really becoming an attraction for boarding schools more than for a Tourist Centre. The reason being for the same is the atmosphere, nature and climate here. There are no cinemas, no parks or malls. There is nothing here that can distract students from their studies.

Jagriti Vihara

Jagriti Vihara was a place to visit at least three decades ago. Everything was good about it. It was very beneficial to the villagers as it provided education in skills and also got them business. Carpentry, making  roof tiles, wiving cloth etc. were among the skills taught and earned from.

Things have changed over the years. Now there are some students boarding there and that’s all that remains within the boundaries of a beautiful set-up.

HOSPITAL in McCluskiegunj???

Well that’s the latest I hear of Jagriti Virhara. A hospital is coming up here. It will have doctors and nurses 24 hours a day. They are to have accommodation for nearly 20 patients at a time. Info. by Kusum Khess, resident of Jagriti Vihara.

Birhor Colony & Road

The government of Jharkhand has built a colony for the Birhor tribe here and are now building a road to it. Work has started and it’s going on pretty fast.

The colony has been built for the third or fourth time. The previous colonies were uprooted and sold off by the Birhors as they didn’t like the idea of staying under-roof. “gharwa bolo hou”, they’d say. It means the house talks.

They sold every brick of the entire colony then. The current colony is situated in the same place. Lets see what happens this time.

The road that is being built to it is a concrete one and is an important road as it will be used to go to the railway station via the Birhor colony and the Mahuatand village. It is a good thing, but it won’t last for long I recon because it will be used by the tractors and trucks that transport bricks from nearby kilns and thus it is sure to be ruined soon. Had it been tarred it would have a longer life The road being concrete will require plenty of water for its curing and if not cured well, will break chip by chip eventually.

Watch this!

Hi folks! watch this documentry on McCluskiegunj by Dhiraj Singh telecast on Loksabha TV.

McCluskie's Ganj

Virendra Munda, the Champ!

There's this young lad studying at La Veda here. He has only one functional limb to move around and does so pretty well. He comes from across the Damodar river on a bicycle all by him self from a village called Sirram, approximately 10 kilos from here.

He moves around just as much and like a normal boy of his age. His name is Virendra Munda. Studying in the 9th standard, this polio victim plays football using a bamboo stick as his second limb. I have seen him playing during the practice for an inter-school football tournament that was held at McCluskiegunj around a week ago.

I see that La Veda had provided him the opportunity to play in the team that participated against schools from surrounding areas. The boy was NOT allowed to play and was replaced by somebody else by the organizers.

Since this was a match at a school-college level, this boy had a right to participate in it moreover he proves himself equal to any normal player of his team , if not. better.

Why do people forget the word ENCOURAGEMENT  and its meaning?

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Forest being attacked

McCluskiegunj is surrounded with hills and forest and that is why the air and water here is very fresh and good. There are many trees such as the Sakhua, eucalyptus ,Mahua, Palash, Neem and Salai etc.

The forest department had planted many a trees in the recent past and had dug trenches to prevent them from fire and domestic animals. The trenches are doing their job but the forest is being ruined by the locals who go to the forest everyday and return with plenty of freshly cut trees, branches and shrubs.

Almost everyday I see men, women and children carrying the forest home. Being local people, most are known to me. On an occasion or two, I have commented to some people by saying "saara jungle khatm kar dijiega kya?" ("will you finish the entire forest or what?") The reply I get is that they only cut branches and young trees/shrubs/plants to feed cattle or to fence up areas used to grow vegetables in homes. 

It is obvious that if the young trees and plants etc. are cut, the forest will consist of only old trees and in such a time the locals will not spare the full grown trees and will continue to use it as fencing and cattle feed.

The forest department doesn't seem active at all. Villagers are not concerned about the natural beauty nor about nature. If they do, its only for personal gains.

There are plenty of wild fruits and birds of varied species. There are beautiful seasonal wild flowers too.

Due to the forest we have good climate right through the year. Its good to go for a morning walk and to see the greenery today. Tomorrow? God Knows!

Electric Wire and Poles Stolen

McCluskiegunj is facing electricity problems due to lac of attention from the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (J.S.E.B.).

The wires carrying approximately 11000 volts (aluminium) which was stolen last week, was finally replaced by the Central Coal Field Ltd. After which, we have got current. The local residents made an effort to go to Khalari (Block) and demand proper attention and supply of material when required.

Around a week ago wire with insulators and brackets from five poles were stolen. The same was supplied by the General Manager (C.C.L.) and thus we now have current.

Stealing of bulk wire has been a common task in the past years. The reason for the theft is that a large stretch of poles and wire come across the jungles of the surrounding areas between Bachra and here.

If the route of these poles/wire are diverted, perhaps we will no longer face such problem. Separate lines from Bachra are already in existence and supply current to the Khalari Cement factory. If wires are carried parallel to these wires and poles, we would be well off with current as the hours of supply has increased in comparison to the earlier times.

Gramin Bank Looted

Yesterday at about 10 am the Ranchi Kshetriya Gramin Bank here was looted by 6 unknown boys/men at gunpoint. These guys came on 3 motorcycles and entered the bank as soon as it was opened by the peon, Lalku.

The robbers had a key that they tried to use to open the safe but failed to do so as it got stuck. Anyway, they looted a few mobile phones from bank customers who happened to enter unknown to the robbery taking place.

The local police was informed and they have begun their investigation. The robbers are said to have fled towards jobhia.

The amount that was called the loot was Rs. 500. This is from a local residents mouth.

The police here are very active and many in number. This is not the first incident. A few years ago the same bank was looted and that was at 11 am. The amount is unknown but at that time the amount was big and there was no police station. The looters were 40 in number and after looting the bank crossed the railway lines and went on towards Ranchi on foot. They had the crossing gates closed by the railway gate-man and warned him not to open it before an hour had passed.

Things are bettering....

Electricity now too good...

I remember the recent past years, when the condition of the electricity here was pathetic.

Since a couple of weeks or so, the electricity is really remaining on almost throughout the day and the night. I recall the times when the electricity would go on vacation for days, sometimes weeks and sometimes even a month would be possible.

McCluskiegunj requires proper electrification and for that the Jharkhand State Electricity Board should appoint permanent electricians and supply all necessary material in order to keep mini London lit up. Currently, there are two local men known as Bijay and Binay (Vijay and Vinay) who have some sort of connection with the electricity department in Bachra, where the mains are controlled in our area. These guys use cellphones to communicate and request a shout-down or charge-up depending on their need. Due to this advantage, these two get good work and are a relief to have around.

I, on behalf of all the residents of McCluskiegunj thank the persons that took the matter seriously and for making such a surprising change. Thank you very much.

Coal Thieves

These are pictures of a local man unloading coal (illegally) from a train that halted for a few minutes. Dhurwa More, this the Railway Crossing area that has quite a bit of population. 

The moment trains stop (for any reason), local people climb these trains and throw down coal boulders. As long as they find the train stationary they continue with their unloading. When they come in to motion then hurry scurry goes on to get a last piece or two and risk their lives getting off.

La Veda Academy Vs McCluskieganj Inter College

La Veda Inter College Vs McCluskieganj Inter College

In an earlier post you might have read that a new Inter College known as La Veda Inter College was opened (now its known as La Veda Academy) and it had  a lot to promise in terms of education to the local students that passed out from Hindi medium schools here.

Well, this institution now has roughly 150 – 200 students including boys and girls.

I would often stand at my boundary wall that lies between La Veda and my house, watching activities take place in the playground of the same and foreseeing a good future for both, students and institution.

I found that the students were well behaved and dressed neatly. Teachers were dedicated to their jobs. I would watch or hear classes go on, be it physical exercises, parade, singing, poetry or any subject that would be taught on the playground while they enjoyed the sunshine during the end of winter and would feel kind of proud for some reason.

Unfortunately due to internal problems between staff and management, a no. of teaching members have suddenly quit their jobs and have joined another Inter College called McCluskieganj Inter College. This new college has started just next-door to La Veda (not precisely the next door) and was inaugurated on Friday 25^th May 2012.

The being of McCluskieganj Inter College relates a lot.

I happened to meet a teacher who jumped from La Veda to McCluskieganj Inter College. He said his name is Manoj Kumar and he has come here from Ranchi. Many of the facts mentioned herein are based on what he said to me.

Finally, will both the colleges survive together? If yes then its good in some way or the other but if no and La Veda closes then it will is be sad to see an institution get packed up due to any kind of misunderstanding or politics between staff and management..

Lets see what happens.

GLEN GALSTAUN'S VISIT

On Saturday 4th February, we had a meeting cum get-together at Mrs. Judy Mendonca's place. Mr. Glen Galstaun, our M.L.A. (accompanied by Mr. Surendra Nath Pandey) was with us to discuss issues to work on in the near future.

Mr. Galstaun listened to all that was said and asked by them who were present.

Medical, borewells, electricity, roads, education and cemetery boundary walls were among the issues discussed.

Among the members present there, there were; Mrs. Kathleen Hourigan, Mr. Dennis Meredith, Mr. Harold Mendies, Mr. John Hourigan, Mr. Christopher D'Costa and daughter Crystal, Mr. Ivan Barrette, Mrs. Debbie Barrette, Mrs. Kitty, Mr. Jeffery Mendies, Mr. Kenneth Jennings, Mr. Clayton Gomes, Mrs. Brenda Gomes, and my wife Charmaine Hourigan and myself.

The thana prabhaari was also present and took a list of the names and positions of active members of the association, McCluskiegunj branch.

Mr. Galstaun has done a lot for the Anglos here. He has given bore wells and roads to many residents. He is seeing to a tuberculous patient's medical expense and much more.

I am personally grateful to Mr. Galstaun for providing me a deep bore, submersible pump, piping, storage tank (1000 Ltrs.) at the small plot of land that means a lot to me, free of my cost too.