A nine-year-old boy in Wardha was killed and his body parts were eaten by a man who was seeking divine powers to find a hidden treasure. What is your reaction?
Killing a child for superstitious beliefs is shocking and painful, especially since we recently brought out an anti-superstition Act. The accused persons have been arrested under the Act. The government will ensure harsh punishment for the guilty so that it acts as a deterrent for others.
In Ahmednagar, the police are yet to nab the people behind the triple murder of Dalits and the opposition and activists are training guns at the poor investigative skills of the Maharashtra police which couldn't trace the killers of Dr Narendra Dabholkar.
When we were in opposition we also used to accuse the government and police for inefficiency. But we are trying our best. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself had called the inspector general of police and has asked him to nab the accused as early as possible.
The Ashramshalas (residential schools in tribal area) across the state are in a shambles. How do you address this long-pending issue?
Being a tribal, I have personally experienced the poor conditions of the Ashramshalas. Our focus would be to create a learning environment in all tribal schools by improving the infrastructure, which will be my first priority. Several posts of teachers in these schools are lying vacant. We plan to fill them as early as possible. Moreover, tribals have to migrate to cities for eight months a year to earn livelihood. Their land can't be used for industrial purposes. If needed, I would seek amendment in the law so that land usage can be changed, paving the way for industries.
Melghat, Palghar and other tribal areas continue to face higher mother mortality and infant mortality due to malnutrition though Maharashtra's overall record in these two parameters were better than many states last year. How do you improve the situation?
During the previous Sena-BJP government, we had implemented the Navsanjeevni program for better nutrition of the tribal mothers. It had led to the reduction in the mother and infant deaths. We need to strengthen that program again. Our report card will be better than the previous government.