Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch Shibu Soren has stressed on education for all, cautioned against consumption of liquor and over exploitation of mineral wealth.

“Education is the need of the hour and it is needed for the tribals even more. Only by getting education we will move towards a bright future and everyone must get education in the state,” Soren said this while addressing an event to mark 49th foundation day of the party in Giridih on Friday.

Soren, who was the chief guest of the event at Jhanda Maidan in Giridih — around 190km from Ranchi — identified alcohol and intoxication as an hindrance to the development of the state.

“For the state to march forward and develop, youth should keep away from consuming liquor and handia (fermented rice beer used mostly among tribals in Jharkhand, Odisha and Chattisgarh). For the state to become self-reliant, more focus should be kept on farming,” said Soren.

Blaming the Centre for the slow pace of development of the state and the country as a whole, the former Union coal minister said: “Development has come to a standstill during the tenure of the current Central government because of faulty policies.”

Soren, fondly called Guruji in the state, remembered that the state was carved out of Bihar in 2000 after a long drawn out fight.

“There was a long fight to establish the separate state of Jharkhand, which has an abundance of mineral resources but the resources need to be used properly and not overexploited,” said Soren.

Soren congratulated all the JMM members for helping the party complete 49 years.

“The government in the state is determined to work and fulfil the aspirations of all sections of the society and this has created panic among the opposition. Several development plans of the Hemant Soren government have earned widespread appreciation,” Soren added.

State minority welfare minister, Hafizul Hassan Ansari reminded the people about the agitation launched by Guruji against feudal lords and exploitation of workers and oppressed.

“Our government is now trying to fulfil the aspiration of these sections with innovative schemes so that all people can get their rights which is evident in the recently announced Budget for 2022-23,” said Ansari.

The minister also said that when Hemant assumed charge in 2019-end, he inherited a near empty treasury of the state and exhorted all to strengthen the party in 2024 polls too.

Giridih MLA Suvidya Kumar Sonu also praised the new welfare initiatives of the state.