Activists associated with food security and effective implementation of MGNREGS have reminded the Jharkhand finance minister about “unfulfilled promises” ahead of the 2023-24 annual budget.
The delegation comprising Asharfi Nand Prasad, economist Jean Dreze, James Herenz, state convenor of NREGA Watch, and Taramani Sahu met Jharkhand finance minister Rameshwar Oraon in Ranchi on Monday and submitted a memorandum reminding him of “some unfulfilled promises” of the Jharkhand government.
“We reiterated the provision of eggs every day in schools and anganwadi centres in the state. This is all the more urgent in the light of abysmal school attendance rates as found in Dreze’s report, Gloom in the classroom: The schooling crisis in Jharkhand,” said Prasad, a member of the Jharkhand Right to Food Campaign.
Chief minister Hemant Soren had promised to provide eggs six days a week but it has not yet been implemented.
The memorandum also demanded the “universalisation” of social security pensions at an enhanced rate of Rs 2,500 per month.
“Pension coverage has expanded recently, but it is still not covering all eligible beneficiaries, and the monthly payments are just Rs 1,000 per month,” added Prasad.
Jharkhand claims to be the only state in the country to provide “universal pensions” to the elderly, widowed and single women and persons with disability, which means the state will give social security pensions to everyone belonging to the mentioned categories without any rider.
The memorandum also reiterated the regular supply of free foodgrain rations (5kg per person) to green card holders.
“In recent months, there have been endless disruptions in the green card quota. This defeats the scheme’s purpose,” said Herenz.
“We also recommended the extension of maternity benefits to all children, and not just to the first child as is being done under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, which is actually a violation of the National Food Security Act. Though the Centre is responsible for this, Jharkhand can start a maternity benefit scheme similar to Odisha’s Mamta scheme.”
