Jharkhand News: Jharkhand Assembly Announces Pension and Insurance for Journalists, Will Recover ₹1.36 Lakh Crore from Center

Ranchi, December 11, 2024: On the third day of the special session of the Jharkhand Assembly, Governor Santosh Gangwar delivered his address. Along with this, Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore presented the second supplementary budget of ₹11,697 crore for the financial year 2024-25. Following the presentation, the House was adjourned until 11 a.m. on Thursday. In his address, the Governor mentioned the presence of both veteran and new faces in the House, urging all members to work in harmony to respect the public mandate and fulfill the aspirations of the people.

Governor’s Address and Key Announcements

Governor Santosh Gangwar highlighted that through mutual cooperation between the state and central governments, the overall development of Jharkhand would be achieved. He disclosed that the central government and its agencies owed the state ₹1.36 lakh crore and the state government would take legal measures to recover this amount. Moreover, efforts will be made to include regional tribal languages, such as Ho, Mundari, Kudukh, and others, in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Pension and Insurance for Journalists

In a landmark move, the state government announced that all registered journalists in Jharkhand will be entitled to training, insurance and pension benefits. This is expected to provide much-needed financial security to the state’s media professionals.

State’s Commitment to Tribal Welfare and Local Policies

The Governor also discussed various initiatives aimed at the welfare of tribal and indigenous communities. The state government plans to introduce a local policy ensuring 100% reservation in third and fourth-grade jobs for these groups. Additionally, the government will take steps to enact policies for the benefit of the indigenous population, focusing on areas such as employment and social security.

Legal Measures for Justice and Social Welfare

The state has committed to taking legal steps to ensure justice for victims of the Sahara India crisis by approaching the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the fifth Jharkhand Legislative Assembly has passed a bill providing 27% reservation for backward classes, 28% for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 12% for Dalits, a matter currently pending with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The state government will exert every effort to get these issues approved by the Centre.

Plans for Sports and Youth Development

The state government is also focusing on sports development. A Sports University will be established and direct appointments will be made for athletes excelling in national and international competitions. The state will also develop multi-purpose stadiums and sports training centers in all district headquarters, along with a Sports Center of Excellence for sports like football, hockey and archery.

Agriculture, Education and Infrastructure Initiatives

Agriculture will be boosted with zero-interest loans for farmers and the state will also fund the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers with a daily wage of ₹350. The government has announced the launch of a ₹10,000 crore Lift Irrigation Scheme to make better use of water from the state’s rivers and dams.

In the field of education, the state will establish 500 Chief Minister Schools of Excellence at the block level and recruit teachers for sports and music. Around 4,500 model schools will be set up at the panchayat level and free education will be provided from Kindergarten to Ph.D. levels. Further, each block will have a degree college and each sub-division will get a Polytechnic College.

Employment Generation and Women’s Empowerment

The state government plans to create 60,000 teaching jobs, 15,000 headmaster posts, 2,500 clerical positions and 10,000 police constable vacancies. In addition, 10,000 language teachers will be appointed and a Madarsa Board, a Minority Welfare Board and an Urdu Academy will be established.

Women’s empowerment is a priority, with 33% of all government positions reserved for women. Under the Maiya Samman Scheme, women will receive ₹2,500 per month. Moreover, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be provided with ₹15,000 crore in credit linkages to promote entrepreneurship and job creation.

Regularization of House Maps and Health Initiatives

A major initiative for urban planning includes the regularization of house maps for properties in Ranchi and other cities that were constructed years ago. The government will also connect all eligible families to the Abua Health Security Scheme, worth ₹15 lakh per family.

Old Pension Scheme and Worker Benefits

To ensure the welfare of state employees, steps will be taken to secure the old pension system, with the central government’s help to restore funds held in the National Pension Scheme (NPS) accounts of state employees.

Final Measures

In an effort to ensure the well-being of the state’s citizens, daily nutritional support such as eggs or fruits will be provided in Anganwadis and schools. Moreover, all regular employees of the state will have their welfare guaranteed under the government’s schemes, continuing to support growth in multiple sectors.