Ranchi: During the 11th governing council meeting of the Niti Aayog in Delhi on Thursday, Chief Minister Hemant Soren raised key financial and policy demands before the Centre. He demanded expedited release of Rs 6,000 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission and settlement of Rs 1.36 lakh crore in dues in the form of royalties from coal companies.
Key Demands Raised
Soren pressed for changes in District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) norms, simplification of land acquisition processes, and faster approvals for infrastructure- and education-linked schemes. He emphasized that Jharkhand's mineral wealth will be meaningful only when linked with human capital and local value addition.
Investment Potential Highlighted
The CM highlighted investment potential in sectors such as textiles, electronics, green energy, logistics, and agro-food processing. He stated, “The state is promoting AI-based mineral exploration and sustainable mining practices to position Jharkhand as a new hub for industry and employment, and active support is expected from the Centre.”
Social Infrastructure and Nutrition
On social infrastructure, Soren pointed out that nearly 15,000 of the state's 38,000 anganwadi centres still lack buildings, even as initiatives like Poshan Abhiyan and SAAMAR have helped improve nutrition indicators. He added that 5,000 new anganwadi buildings are being constructed using state resources, with eggs being provided daily to children.
Education and Skill Development
On education, Hemant said that students from CM Schools of Excellence are now qualifying for IITs and medical colleges, with a target to develop 5,000 such institutions. He demanded expansion of PM Shri and Kendriya Vidyalayas and sought the establishment of an NCERT regional centre in the state.
Employment and Training
Focusing on employment, Hemant said over 1 lakh youths are being linked to jobs annually, while 6.76 lakh have been trained under the Sarathi scheme in emerging domains like AI, EVs, drones, and solar energy. Additionally, 53,000 women have received training in modern technical sectors.
Healthcare Access
He said that the state is focusing on strengthening healthcare access at the panchayat level, noting that 1,276 rural medicine outlets are operational. Proposals for increasing UG and PG seats in medical colleges must be fast-tracked by the Centre. The state is working on AI-based digital health profiles.
Sports and Agriculture
Hemant also flagged Jharkhand's growing achievements in sports and demanded a sports university and centres of excellence. In agriculture, he said over 10 lakh nutrition gardens and fruit plantations across 1.5 lakh acres are helping combat malnutrition, with Jharkhand mangoes reaching global markets.
Digital Governance
He also informed about the state's focus on digital governance initiatives, including plans for setting up an AI-driven CM data intelligence platform and integrated command centres for stronger safeguards against digital fraud.
