Jharkhand: Pathalgarhi supporters mislead, say villagers in Khunti district

Villagers in Chitramu in Jharkhand's Khunti district today pledged to implement the state government's schemes, saying that 'Pathalgarhi' supporters had mislead them, according to an official release.

They demolished the 'Pathalgarhi' recently installed in the village by the movement's supporters, it said today.

'Pathalgarhi' is reportedly a practice in which various tenets were inscribed on a huge stone slabs.

The Chitramu gram sabha in a meeting held on July 12 had decided to prevent the new form of 'Pathalgarhi', a tribal custom, as it was misleading the adivasi culture and tradition by explaining the Constitution in a wrong manner, the release said.

"The new form of Pathalgarhi was depriving the villagers from the benefits of the government schemes, education, health and other development works.

"Besides, Pathalgarhi has also distanced the villagers from the district administration," it said.

The gram sabha in its meeting decided to observe 'Pathalgarhi' in traditional form, and socially and culturally, the release said.

They decided to prevent the new form 'Pathalgarhi' in the village and pledged to work with the government to implement the schemes.

On the request of the Gram Sabha, the release stated that "Chale Vikas ki Ore" (Let's march towards development) will be organised in Chitramu on July 27.