Chief minister Hemant Soren said that his government is following the agenda of development through democratic norms, and appealed to all residents of Jharkhand on Independence Day to work towards strengthening social equilibrium.
Delivering his speech to celebrate India's 75th Independence Day at Ranchi’s Morabadi ground on Sunday, his second since assuming charge in 2019, he stressed on the principal of "Vikas Moolmantra, Aadhar Loktantra", and said that his government was working on multiple fronts to usher in holistic development in Jharkhand, which since its creation in 2000, is still battling numerous problems.
Chief minister Hemant Soren with DGP Niraj Sinha atop jeep inspecting the parade. Telegraph Picture
Hemant said upgrading the agriculture sector to working on industrial promotion, job creation, development of sports, strengthening elementary and higher education, ensuring basic necessities, boosting power production, among others, are his government’s key focus areas.
Hemant unfurls the Tricolour on Sunday. Telegraph Picture
Hailing the contribution of scores of freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the nation's independence and creation of a separate Jharkhand state over the years, he said his government was committed to safeguarding the rights of its people so that the local culture, lifestyle and aspirations are fulfilled.
Revealing plans to boost agriculture, one of the mainstays of people living in rural areas, he said the government had over the last year come up with several plans and policies. Jharkhand, he said, was working to set up Kirshi Pathshala in every district for all-round capacity building of farmers.
Governor Ramesh Bais organised a programme titled The Telegraph picture
He said, “It will be known as Samekit Birsa Gram Vikas Yojana-cum-Krishi Pathshala, which is going to start soon. In the first phase, we plan to identify one agriculture farm in every district to first upgrade it with all facilities which will act as a model place for others to come and learn various nuances of farming. This will help local farmers cutting across dairy, fishery and others, to get exposed to state-of-art facilities and latest techniques so that they can replicate it further.”
Independence Day celebrations at Ranchi on Sunday Telegraph Picture
Hemant spoke of his government's farm loan waiver scheme and plans to build cold storage.“We offered loan waivers to the tune of Rs 750 crore, benefitting 1.82 lakh farmers so far,” he said.
Talking about post-harvest facilities, he said that construction of 5000 metric tonne capacity cold storages was underway in various districts while several major and minor irrigation schemes were being refurbished to improve irrigation facilities.
Hemant greets Bais with bouquet at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on Sunday evening. The Telegraph picture
He also spoke on how they are working to increase income of those living in rural areas citing that since the onset of the pandemic followed by lockdowns, the government has been tackling the situation on the principle of life and livelihood ("jeevan bhi and jeevika bhi").
Equal emphasis was being provided for the creation of jobs in the state for which, he said that new recruitment rules were formulated for grade 3 and 4 jobs in government departments. “The policy aims to provide jobs to only locals. Those who did their 10th or 12th from this state will be eligible for applying. This apart, we have also made mandatory of basic knowledge of local rituals and culture for candidates so that we can safeguard our tradition, customs and languages,” he said.
