Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren made a powerful appeal to the state's youth on Sunday, urging them to acquire higher and technical education to propel Jharkhand into the league of developed Indian states. The call came during an interaction with students and beneficiaries of the Guruji Student Credit Card (GSCC) scheme, held on the occasion of the 82nd birth anniversary of his late father and JMM patriarch, Shibu Soren.
Honouring a Legacy, Building a Future
Paying tribute to his father, Hemant Soren recalled the long struggle led by Dishom Guru Shibu Soren and others to create a separate state of Jharkhand, a journey fraught with hurdles. "Now, it’s our responsibility to make Jharkhand a better and developed state," the Chief Minister stated. He emphasized that collective effort through education is the key, asserting that Jharkhand’s development is only possible when youths in every village are educated.
The CM expressed concern that despite having immense talent, the state lags behind, forcing a majority of its youth to migrate for employment, often at the cost of their education. He identified financial constraints as a primary barrier preventing meritorious students from pursuing higher studies.
GSCC: A Game-Changer for Accessible Education
To dismantle these economic hurdles, the Hemant Soren-led government introduced the Guruji Student Credit Card (GSCC) scheme in 2024. This flagship initiative provides educational loans of up to Rs 15 lakh at a highly subsidized interest rate of just 4%, without the need for any collateral. The scheme aims to make professional and higher education accessible to all sections of society.
"Our govt will not let economic hurdles get in the way of our youths’ education," the CM assured. He encouraged students to actively take advantage of the GSCC scheme and contribute to the state's growth trajectory. So far, a significant 2,430 students have already benefited from this financial support.
Digital Push and Infrastructure Inauguration
Marking a digital leap in the scheme's administration, Chief Minister Soren launched a dedicated GSCC dashboard and an AI-powered chatbot for students. These tools are designed to simplify the application process and provide instant assistance to beneficiaries. During the event, he also personally handed over GSCC beneficiary cards to 52 selected students.
Furthering his commitment to educational infrastructure, Hemant Soren inaugurated a district library at Bokaro’s Ram Rudra CM School of Excellence. To foster round-the-clock learning habits, he also launched a 24x7 Guruji night school on the same premises. These initiatives collectively aim to boost reading culture and provide flexible learning opportunities for students across the state.
The event underscored the government's dual focus: honoring the legacy of the state's founders by empowering the next generation through education, technology, and accessible financing, thereby scripting a new chapter of development for Jharkhand.
