Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren claimed to be Hemant Soren Part II and promised to continue the work of his predecessor with a focus on the implementation of welfare schemes in villages.
Addressing a programme in Jamshedpur on Friday to mark the distribution of the first instalment of funds under the Abua Awas Yojana (state government's housing scheme for homeless poor in rural areas), the chief minister said: “I am proud to be called Hemant Soren Part II (a term used by BJP leaders for the chief minister). I would continue to emphasise government functioning from the rural areas ensuring benefits reach the doorstep of villagers and fulfil the unfinished work of Hemant Soren.”
The Abua Awas Yojana was launched by Hemant during the statehood day celebration in November last year which provided homeless poor in rural areas three-room pucca houses amid the allegation from the Jharkhand government that the central government had deprived nearly 8 lakh eligible beneficiaries of PM housing scheme for rural areas. The state government claimed that they had to arrange funds from their own exchequer for the Abua Awas Yojana and promised that their houses would be bigger and better than the Centre’s housing scheme.
In the first instalment on Friday, Rs 30,000 was transferred to the accounts of nearly 24,827 beneficiaries of housing schemes residing in three districts of East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan respectively.
“Bureaucrats should remember that our government will function from rural areas and they should ensure that only eligible beneficiaries are sanctioned funds under housing schemes and no middlemen are involved at any cost. Officials should also remember that if there is news about bonafide beneficiaries deprived of houses then action would be taken against responsible officials,” warned Champai Soren.
He reiterated that the government would allot houses to each of the homeless in rural areas.
The chief minister also announced that a pension scheme for those belonging to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women completing 50 years would begin shortly by the state government.
