New Delhi/Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday raised several long-pending issues concerning the state during the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking greater support from the Centre for infrastructure, education, healthcare and industrial development.
Addressing the meeting, Soren urged the Union government to release pending funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission and clear outstanding dues of nearly Rs 1.36 lakh crore that he said are payable to Jharkhand by coal companies operating in the state.
The Chief Minister stressed that Jharkhand should not be viewed solely as a mineral-producing state but as a potential centre for industry, manufacturing and a knowledge-driven economy. He advocated value addition of mineral resources within the state and called for the establishment of industries that could generate employment and boost economic growth.
According to Soren, effective utilisation of Jharkhand’s mineral wealth, agricultural resources and human capital could enable the state to play a significant role in achieving the country’s ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision. He sought the Centre’s support for developing industries based on critical minerals and setting up research institutions and innovation hubs.
He also highlighted the need to attract investments in sectors such as textiles, electronics, green energy, logistics and agro-food processing.
Focusing on education and skill development, Soren said the state government has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen these sectors. He proposed increasing the number of PM SHRI schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas in Jharkhand and requested the establishment of a regional centre of NCERT in the state.
The Chief Minister informed the council that the government is working towards developing 5,000 model schools across Jharkhand to improve access to quality education.
On employment and skill development, Soren said the Sarathi scheme has trained lakhs of young people and is preparing them for opportunities in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, drone technology, electric vehicles and solar energy.
In the healthcare sector, he sought approval for the remaining two of the six proposed medical colleges under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, stating that these institutions are crucial for expanding medical education and healthcare facilities in the state.
Soren also requested central assistance for establishing a sports university and centres of excellence in Jharkhand. He further sought opportunities for the state to host national and international sporting events.
Raising concerns related to land procedures, the Chief Minister pointed out that several districts in Jharkhand fall within the operational areas of central public sector undertakings such as DVC, CCL and ECL. He urged the Centre to simplify and relax land-related regulations in these areas to facilitate the development of social infrastructure and public welfare projects.
With inputs from IANS