Often pulled up for dismal performance during the first 15 years of its formation, the State is now banking on speedy economic reforms and measures for a fruitful decade henceforth. Mentioning about some of the strides on that front, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy on Wednesday admitted to poor show so far.
“As far as economy of the State is concerned it can be said in a better position but the same cannot be said about common people of Jharkhand as well. Per capita income is still low in the comparison of the national average. Per capita is Rs 916 in rural areas and Rs 1,894 in urban areas which his 38 per cent less than the national average. About 37 per cent population of the State is below poverty line which is 15 per cent more than the national average,” said Roy while replying on ‘Thanks Giving Motion’ in the House.
The submission has come just before the presentation of the economic survey and annual Budget for the next fiscal -- 2016-17. However at the same time, the Minister also mentioned about the measures in the store for speedy growth.
“The State is growing at the rate of over 7 per cent. If it goes like that then growth rate of 10 per cent can be achieved in the next 10 years. We tried to present the entire vision for this in the address of the Governor. All the important aspects of growth and overall development of the State would be covered through the 10-point agenda found mention into that,” said the Minister.
He also defended ‘Yojna Banao Abhiyan’ being conducted by the Government which came under intense critsism from the Opposition during the debate. “The ‘Yojna Banao Abhiyan’ is basically an awareness exercise that would attach people from the plan making exercise at village level. This is nothing to do with the power vested into panchayati raj system and it is not opposed to it,” said Roy.
Earlier the leader of Opposition picked up holes into the step and several others like current tour of the Chief Minister along with battery of top officials to Mumbai to take part into the ‘Make in India’ summit.
“It is nothing but a flop filmy show. You also presented a pack of lie in the form of the Governor’s address which is nothing to do with ground reality and present no vision for the future. You are heading for nowhere and just reaping what we had shown,” said JMM’s Hemant Soren.