Union Minister of state for Human Resource Development Annpurna Devi evaded any direct criticism or attack on the Hemant Soren- led state government, calling for establishing harmonious coordination with the state government to ensure all-round educational development of Jharkhand.

The minister, who was in Dhanbad on Thursday for the second day as part of her Jan Aashirwad Yatra launched four days ago while being prodded by media that earlier it was a double engine government in state and now it is single engine, said, “As education comes in concurrent list so the state government has prime responsibility for educational development of the state but we will try to establish coordination with the state government to ensure all round educational development of the state.”

When asked her priorities for Jharkhand in the ministry, she said proper functioning of Central University and IIT would be her priority at present as part of the existing projects and later she will explore more development avenues as she has recently joined the cabinet and is still in process of understanding its nitty gritty.

“Our priority at the national level would also be to ensure the proper implementation of new education policy announced by prime minister, Narendra Modi in the last year,” said Devi and added the stress is on vocational education from class VI level in schools.

Elaborating about the features of education policy 2020 she said, “Under the new education policy the focus will be on education in local languages and even the engineering education would be imparted in 11 regional Indian languages.”

“As per the provisions of new education policy, the education in schools would also be imparted in regional languages and added that provisions are also there for education of visually challenged students through sign languages and all categories of education would be imparted to the students under the same roof,” further said Devi.

Earlier, elaborating about the aim of launching the Jan Aashirwad Yatra under which she has already covered seven districts of state, Devi said, “The basic aim of Yatra is to seek the blessing of the common people after being inducted in the union cabinet with the blessing of prime minister Narendra Modi as the structure of cabinet shows it’s inclusive feature representing people from different states, sections of society, age group like youth besides women (11), Other Backward Caste (27), Scheduled Caste (12), Scheduled tribe (8), minority (5)”.

“The nation is making progress by leaps and bounds under the strong leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and inclusive growth of different sections of the society is being ensured in the progress,” said Devi who arrived at Dhanbad on Wednesday during which she was offered a grand welcome by the party activists at several places across the district and also participated in an intellectual meet held at management studies of IIT (ISM).

The progressive nature of the state can be assumed from the fact that despite the obstructionist attitude of the Opposition, 20 important bills were passed during the current session showing the commitment of the central Government towards the inclusive progress of the nation.

Coal town Congress leaders demand an 'apology march' from BJP

Congress workers burn effigy of PM Narendra Modi at Randhir Verma Chowk in Dhanbad on Thursday. Shabbir Hussain

Congress activists of Dhanbad on Thursday, under the leadership of district president, Brajendra Prasad Singh questioned the BJP over rise in fuel prices, unemployment and called upon the party to take out a Chhama Yatra (apology march) against the sufferings caused to common man by the anti people policies of the central government.

The Congress leaders took out a short foot march in this regard near the district headquarters and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri at Randhir Verma Chowk of the district as union minister of state for Human Resource Development, Annapurna Devi is in Dhanbad as part of her Jan Aashirwad Yatra.

The protesters bearing banners, posters and placards who congregated at the chowk at around 12 noon also shouted slogans against the central government criticising it’s alleged anti-poor policy, Modi teri yeh kaisi loot, amiron ko chhut, garibon ko loot; petroleum padarthon ki keemat kam karo, modiji kuchh to sharm karo; rasoi gas ki din pratidih badhti mahangai, kam pad jaati imandari ki kamai.

Talking to media, at the sidelines of the protest programme, district president, Brajendra Prasad Singh, “At a time when the common masses are reeling under the impact of pandemic, the steep hike in petrol, diesel and LPG prices carried out by the central government and consequent price rise had made their life further difficult.”