Jharkhand completed 13 years on Friday and stepped into its 14th with Chief Minister Hemant Soren calling upon the people to look ahead and not indulge in discussing reasons behind the snail’s pace of development in the State.
Speaking on the occasion of Foundation Day at Birsa Munda Football stadium, Morhabadi, the Chief Minister stressed on transparency, accountability and corruption free system and also on the role of the common man to ensure all of them.
“People have lots of expectations from the Government and I am trying my best to come correct on those. There were many dreams after the State was formed. But there is no point discussing why those could not be fulfilled and why we are still stranded at the same place. It would be wastage of time. We have to find out how the stopped vehicle could be given momentum,” said the Chief Minister while addressing the 1,000 plus strength gathering, which mostly comprised college, school students and rural representatives coming from different parts of the State.
The Statehood programme was packed with cultural performances by schools children, dance and ended with attractive fireworks.
He used the occasion to count the achievements of his Government that has just completed four months in the office. These included jobs to revolutionaries of Gua for separate State, honouring family members of Paramvir Chakra winner Albert Ekka, appointments of doctors, teachers and engineers, steps taken for the welfare of minorities, land pattas for landless, action against corruption and relooking the welfare schemes’ beneficiaries.
“Though the purpose for a separate State has not been fulfilled fully, this Government has done everything that could be done in a short span of four months. 33-year-long pending demand for Gua revolutionaries has been fulfilled. Advertisement for the appointment for TET passed candidates has been published in today’s newspapers. 5000 pattas to landless would be given by the end of this month. Deepika Kumari would be given land in Ranchi. Also, we want to expand coverage for old-age pension and widow pension. It would not be limited to just BPl and people from village with income of Rs 10,500 and for urban areas with Rs 12,500 would be brought under it,” said Hemant, adding that the government was also working to hike pension money under the schemes.
“Poor people languishing in jails in the want of bail bonds would also be given assistance by the government,” said the CM. Governor Syed Ahmed also stressed on speeding up pace of development in the State and also called for proper implementation of the schemes coming from the Centre.
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh called for a renewed commitment for the coalition Government and also expressed need for transparency and accountability so that commitments made under the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) can be achieved.
On the occasion, the Government distributed three laptops to school toppers, appointment letter to Ekka Vincent Albert, son of Albert Ekka and 28 other Junior Engineers, solar lamps, auto rickshaw and cycle rickshaw, truck, tractor, forest land rights and education loans to beneficiaries. Police medals were also given to daring police officials that also included Ranchi SSP Saket Kumar Singh.
Also present on the occasion was Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay and Assembly Speaker Shashank Shekhar Bhokta. Most of the Cabinet colleagues of the Hemant Soren Government remained present except Finance Minister Rajendra Singh and Minister from RJD portfolio Annapurna Devi. JMM MlA Mathura Mahto and Aquil Akthar also witnessed the occasion.