Jharkhand Governor Speaks to Assembly, Promises 33% Job Reservation for Women

Ranchi, Dec 11 (NationPress) Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, addressing the inaugural Special Session of the sixth Assembly on Wednesday, revealed a range of important initiatives from the Jharkhand government. Most significantly, the Jharkhand government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has committed to implementing 33 percent reservation for women in state government positions.

The Governor further stressed the government's dedication to formulating a local policy for tribals and indigenous residents, ensuring 100 percent reservation in third and fourth-grade government roles.

Outlining the state’s development strategy, the Governor pointed out that the central government and its enterprises owe Jharkhand a total of Rs 1.36 lakh crore, and the state government plans to pursue legal actions to reclaim this amount.

The address also included ambitions to promote tribal languages and efforts to include Ho, Mundari, Kurukh, and other tribal languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Additionally, the Governor highlighted further significant promises from the state government, including interest-free loans for all farmers, free education for children from KG to PG, and the implementation of the Sarna tribal religion code.

The Governor commenced his address by congratulating the newly-elected members of the Sixth Assembly and praised the peaceful electoral process. He expressed optimism that the MLAs would work diligently towards building a prosperous and progressive Jharkhand.

Emphasizing the government's focus on inclusive development, he reaffirmed a commitment to ensuring rights, safety, and opportunities for everyone, with a special focus on marginalized communities.

Pending key proposals from the previous Assembly include 28 percent reservation for tribals, 27 percent for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and 12 percent for Scheduled Castes (SCs), which are awaiting approval from the Union Home Ministry. The Governor assured that efforts will be made to hasten the approval process for these proposals.

The government also expressed its commitment to addressing the grievances of Sahara India investors, announcing plans to assist affected investors, including families of those who experienced distress or loss due to Sahara’s financial issues. Legal battles will be vigorously pursued to reclaim people's funds.

To support farmers, the government aims to provide loans at a 0 percent interest rate and issue land receipts to farmers residing on non-cultivated lands.

For workers under MNREGA, the state intends to increase their wages, ensuring a minimum daily wage of Rs 350. Additionally, Rs 10,000 crore will be invested in utilizing river and dam water resources.

The government has proposed the establishment of 500 CM Schools of Excellence with health and music instructors, 4,500 Panchayat-level Adarsh Vidyalayas, degree colleges in each block, and polytechnics at the sub-division level.

Furthermore, a Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Library will be set up to encourage education and knowledge dissemination.