Jharkhand celebrated 18th Foundation Day on Wednesday with an array of events taking place across the State. The main Statehood Day ceremony was organized at the historic Morhabadi ground in the State Capital attended by Governor Droupadi Murmu, Chief Minister Raghubar Das, his Cabinet colleagues, eminent personalities and senior government officials of the State.
During the sparkling ceremony Chief Guest, Governor, Droupadi Murmu, declared the State completely Open Defecation Free (ODF) much before the October 2, 2019 deadline. Also, development schemes worth Rs 1100 crore were launched, 10 persons were felicitated with 'Jharkhand Samman', appointment letters were distributed among newly recruited government employees.
Addressing the gathering Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that the faith and support of the people of State was his strength as he wants to set Jharkhand as an example in terms of development in the country. Das appealed the people to take a pledge to make Jharkhand free of corruption, casteism, communalism and nepotism, which gives every citizen a chance to lead a dignified life.
Das remembered former PM AB Vajpayee, former Deputy PM LK Advani and those who led the revolution for separate Jharkhand State on the occasion and said that Atal Jee had given a gift to the people of the State but the kind of development the State need couldn't take place. It is for the first time that the Jharkhand revolutionaries were acknowledged by the present government and are being given pension by the government, he said.
"On December 28, 2014 you have given the responsibility of serving the State. Since then I am working like a servant of 3.25 crore people of the State. I will not talk about statistics but will surely say that the image of Jharkhand has gone a sea change in last four years. Now, no one remembers Jharkhand for naxalism or corruption. Today, Jharkhand is discussed for development in the world. You can proudly say that you are a Jharkhandi. You can proudly say that your chief servant is taintless and will remain without any charges of corruption," said the CM.
Das went on to count landmarks on the development scale citing the government works on drinking water and sanitation, electrification, economic parameters, health facilities, ease of doing business, employment opportunities, education, agriculture, women empowerment, tribal development and empowerment of rural representatives among others.
He invited the people of the State to the first Global Agriculture and Food Summit in the country being organized in Ranchi on November 29 and 30. The CM also appealed the people on the occasion to extend their support to the government in development works by making everyone aware of the schemes.
Speaking on the occasion Governor Droupadi Murmu said that the government is committed to implement its resolution of clean Jharkhand. "Awareness of cleanliness has increased in our people. Jharkhand has got the first position in the country for cleanliness in the cleanliness survey 2018. Individual toilets, urinals and community toilets have been constructed under Clean India Mission. Sakhi Mandals have played an important role in this," she said.
"Role of women in this mission has made it a huge success. Rani Mistry has been made in place of the Masons by training women in the state. These Rani Mistries are playing an important role in the construction of toilets in the state. This concept of Rani Mistry has been appreciated by the Central Government and it is being followed by various states, which is a matter of pride for Jharkhand," she added.
The State Governor said that with progress in different areas, Jharkhand has discharged important role in the development of the nation.