Sahibganj, Apr 6 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that
completion of Sahibganj-Manihari bridge and multi model port terminal
would accelerate economic development of the regions and people on
both sides of the divide of the river would be benefitted by it.
Thanking the Prime minister on behalf of the 3.25 crore people of
the State, the chief minister said the Santhal Pargana in these 70
years of country’s independence could not prosper as it ought to have
been. These two projects however will bring prosperity to this region
by connecting it with Bihar, Bengal and South-East Asian countries,
Mr Das reminded the Prime Minister about his remarks made earlier
during election rallies of enveloping the region with development and
said the government will try its best to develop the region in three
years as envisaged by him by working with the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath,
Sabka Vikas’.
He also reiterated his government’s resolve of holistic development
of Tribals by generating employment opportunities for them and their
integration with the state’s mainstream. Constitution of two special
battalions of youth – girls and boys – from very vulnerable tribal
group (VVTG) was a step in that direction and handing over of
certificates of appointment to 956 at the hands of Prime Minister to
them is testimony to that commitment and resolve, the CM said.
He also enumerated other measures taken to take care of these
vulnerable tribal groups such as Rs 600 pension scheme to one of the
eligible member of these families and the VVTG Dakia scheme under
which packed foodgrains will be delivered to these tribals at their
doorstep.
The Chief Minister also touched upon the measures undertaken for
socio-economic empowerment of toiling women of the state terming them
a skilled workforce. “Sakhi Mandals constituted of groups of 10-20
poor women and financed with a revolving fund are rewriting nuances of
socio-economic development in rural areas. Offering 1 lakh smart
phones to these mandals for distribution among their members is
another measure for their empowerment which would also give push to
their digital inclusion and a push to less cash transaction campaign,
the CM said.
He also said that the government will spend Rs 700 crore on
training them into the trade. The Chief Minister Entrepreneurship
Board has been set up to supervise gainful employment and
self-employment of women.
“Quality roads are life lines of nation and the States,” Mr Das
said adding that “commissioning of the 311-km Govindpur-Sahebgunj road
is a step in that direction which reduces travel time from Dhanbad to
Sahebgunj from 10-12 hours to 5 hours.” The road will usher in
economic development of the regions connected through it and the
4-lane bridge on the river Ganga, once completed, will further boost
that, he said.
The Chief Minister also chose the occasion to reiterate his
government’s resolve to lit state’s 32,000 hamlets by 2018 and
generating 2650 MW solar power by 2019-20.
Apr72017