Jharkhand Governor: ‘I am not a British Governor here to rule, I am an Indian Governor here to serve’

CP Radhakrishnan says, “I have decided to be on the move for 10 days a month only to visit villages … In the next five years, I will visit each and every panchayat.”

Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan with the people of a village in Dumka district. (Express photo)

In his first visit to a village in Jharkhand’s Dumka district, Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday addressed people and said he had told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that people might or might not visit the Raj Bhavan but the Governor would go to people. On the sidelines of an event, the Governor spoke to The Indian Express. Excerpts:

This is your first visit to a village in Jharkhand since taking charge. Are more such visits planned?

I have decided to be on the move for 10 days a month only to visit villages. I was told that there are 4,354 panchayats. In the next five years, I will visit each and every panchayat.

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What is one area that you want to focus on and see changes in?

My first agenda is to encourage the preliminary education of children. I say this because people’s mindsets can be changed only with education and therefore dropping out should be discouraged. Education will give the people of Jharkhand a lot of confidence to compete with the world. The second priority is healthcare, and then housing. I also place emphasis on educational facilities.

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Now that you have come to Ghasipur, what is one good thing that you see and what are the areas where there is scope for improvement?

The people here are very good at handwork (bamboo artisans). This can be encouraged and efficiency can be improved and further, a new dimension can be added to this. We need to also boost the morale of people. One good thing about the village is that the people are very close-knit and affectionate towards others. So definitely the village will come up.

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What is your view on the strain in Centre-state relationships in a few states? Is de-escalation on your agenda?

PM Narendra Modi and the President have made me the Governor not to be in Ranchi and rule Jharkhand. I have come here to serve the people. I am not a British Governor here to rule, I am an Indian Governor here to serve.

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