Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Friday directed the deputy commissioners of all 24 districts in Jharkhand to ensure that ration card holders are given fruit-bearing saplings.

“Ensure that at least two fruit-bearing saplings are given to all ration card beneficiaries during the distribution of ration. This will not only increase the income of the villagers (so that they can sell it when the plants will bear fruits) but also increase green cover for the benefit of the environment,” Soren said while reviewing the progress of schemes of the rural development department in the state.

There are over 60 lakh families covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Jharkhand who get rations from the public distribution system (PDS) shops every month at a subsidised rate.

Sources in the chief minister’s office informed that the modalities of distribution of fruit-bearing trees would be discussed with the state public distribution and consumer affairs department and forest department soon.

“A strategy would be made for the distribution of fruit-bearing saplings in consultation with the public distribution and consumer affairs department and the forest department soon for a large number of ration card beneficiaries. A system would also be in place to see if the fruit-bearing trees are being nurtured properly by the beneficiaries or not,” said a senior official in the chief minister’s secretariat.

According to the Forest Survey of India 2021 report, over 33 per cent of Jharkhand is covered by forest and trees.

During the meeting, the chief minister expressed his concern over the migration of tribals and the rural populace for jobs and asked the officials to check this.

“Migration of workers to other states is extremely worrying. The government is running several schemes under MGNREGA for employment generation. At least five schemes have to be implemented in every panchayat on a priority basis so that villagers can get employment in their villages,” Hemant said.

He also directed the deputy commissioners and the rural development department officials to coordinate and ensure that sports grounds are developed in every village.

“We have already set in motion a scheme to develop sports grounds in every panchayat under Veer Shahid Poto Ho Khel Vikas Yojana and now this should be done in every village of the state so that sports activities can be promoted in coordination with the state education department. Concerned officials have to ensure sports kits reach each of the students who are interested in sports,” the chief minister said.