Team News Riveting
Ranchi, March 3
After the COVID pandemic ease, the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand has started working on the promises made before the elections.
State Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon today presented the state’s budget, worth Rs 1,01,101 crore, for the upcoming financial year 2022-23, banking heavily on social schemes like student loans (Guriji Credit Card Yojana) and free power for the poor as promised in the election manifesto.
Oraon’s budget speech also briefly touched upon urban aspirations wherein he announced plans for setting up an airport in Sahebganj district, converting a biodiversity park in Ranchi to an eco-tourism hub and devising a comprehensive mobility plan and a cultural centre in capital Ranchi.
The other highlights of the budget include oOne-time state subsidy of Rs 50,000 to PMAY beneficiaries, 64 lakh families with ration cards to get 1 kg pulses at Rs 1 each/month, Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Scholarship (foreign studies) to be extended to SC, OBC and minority communities, CM Sarathi Scheme for training students to face competitive examinations, Woollen clothes for children at Anganwadi centers and others.
Oraon said the Budget focussed to boost the economy with emphasis on infrastructure development, creation of job opportunities for youth and women, welfare of farmers and the marginalised sections of society.
“We now propose to start a new scheme named Guruji Credit Card Yojana to provide soft loans to the poor and deserving students who fail to get bank loans to pursue higher education. Many students from tribal and marginalised backgrounds fail to get bank assistance for higher studies. Even if their parents manage loans, they have to take on heavy mortgages. To address those challenges, the government has started this credit card scheme,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand’s economy is expected to grow by 6.15 per cent in the fiscal beginning April 1, 2022, and is well placed to meet the future challenges on the back of good monsoon, reforms and schemes, said the pre-Budget Economic Survey on Wednesday.
The Economic Survey 2021-22, tabled by Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon in the state Assembly, expects the state’s economy to grow by 8.8 in the current fiscal.
