Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren rolled out a petrol subsidy scheme during the Republic Day celebration in Dumka on Wednesday and claimed it to be the first such programme undertaken by a state government in the country.

Soren, who hoisted the national flag after inspecting the parade of the 73rd Republic Day, launched the scheme under which ration card holders (covered under the National Food Security Act) owning two-wheelers would get Rs 250 transferred into their accounts every month, at the rate of Rs 25 per litre for a cap of 10 litres.

Sources in the state food and civil supplies department said that in the first phase, a total of over 99,000 applications had been received through the newly launched CM Support App. About 17,000 were rejected during the two-tier verification by the respective district transport officers and district supply officers.

“Initially, 48,000 applicants will have their monthly subsidy of Rs 250 for 10 litres of petrol directly transferred to their bank account through the direct benefit transfer platform. There are over 20 lakh ration card holders under the NFSA who have two-wheelers and can benefit from the scheme. After the launch, we might see an increase in the number of applicants for the scheme. The Jharkhand government has estimated a monthly expense of Rs 50 crore for the scheme,” said a senior official in the food and civil supplies department.

Addressing the gathering at Dumka, Soren stressed on the education sector while listing the achievements of the state government which completed two years on December 29.

“Education is the basis of development of any state and our government is sensitive towards this sector. We are developing 80 schools of excellence, 325 block-level model schools and 4,091 gram panchayat-level model schools which will have quality of education on a par with the best private schools and follow the CBSE pattern for students free of cost,” said Soren.

He acknowledged that during the Covid-induced lockdown and online classes, education of students has suffered and said the “government is making all efforts to make online education more accessible and effective.”

Soren mentioned that the Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship scheme was started last year for meritorious tribal students, providing complete scholarship for higher education in world-class institutions in the UK and Ireland.

He also said the government was trying to hasten the process of appointments to vacant posts.