LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Feb 27: Governor of Jharkhand C. P. Radhakrishnan today said that even during the tough phase of Covid pandemic, the economy of Jharkhand remained on a robust footing and the Hemant Soren government successfully tackled the pandemic.
The Governor said this while addressing the Jharkhand assembly on the inaugural day of the budget session.
“It was due to the sensitivity and strong decision-making of the State Government, which considers public interest paramount, that the third wave of Corona was prevented from creating havoc in Jharkhand,” he said.
The Governor said that while, on the one hand, the Hemant Soren government took all possible measures to control corona infection, it also took steps on the other hand by which the economy was also not allowed to derail.
“The government worked tirelessly for COVID prevention, COVID-friendly behaviour and hospital management, but also ensured livelihood for the poor, education of children, employment of youth, and extension of development works and public welfare schemes,” he added.
He said that in the financial year 2020-21, when the economic growth rate of the whole country was minus 6.6 percent, the economic growth rate of Jharkhand was minus 5.5 percent. The economic growth rate in FY 2021-22 has been 8.2 percent. During the Corona epidemic, the per capita income in Jharkhand was Rs. 71,071 in FY 2020-2 which increased to Rs. 78,660 in 2021-22.
“These figures indicate that Jharkhand has the potential to scale new heights of success even in adverse circumstances.
Terming agriculture and farmers as important pillars of the economy, he said that in the last decade, farmers were caught in a vicious cycle of debt due to several reasons like increasing expenditure on agriculture and drought etc.
He said that to ease the burden of debt the state government launched the loan waiver Scheme Krishi Rin Mafi Yojna. Under this scheme, a total of Rs. 1727 crores of loans were waived off and more than 4.5 lakh farmers were brought out of the vicious debt trap.
He said that in the current FY 226 blocks of 22 districts of Jharkhand were declared as drought-affected and a massive relief programme was launched for the benefit of the affected farmers and labourers. The government sent a relief proposal of Rs. 9,681 Crore to the Central Government for the drought affected areas and the central team also visited Jharkhand.
“For the benefit of affected farmers, our government has transferred Rs. 461 Crore under the Mukhya Mantri Sukhaad Raahat Yojna, in the bank accounts of more than 13 lakh farmers at the rate of Rs. 3500 per family,” he said.
The governor pointed out that under the Kisan Credit Card Scheme, a sum of nearly Rs. 3,300 Crore has been disbursed among more than 6.30 lakh farmers as a loan at cheap rates.
“Fisheries is the second sector after agriculture in the primary sector which has witnessed remarkable growth in Jharkhand. The State Government is making every effort to promote fish production. It aims to bring about a blue revolution in the State, as well as increase the income of farmers. In the financial year 2021-22, a total of 2 lakh metric tonnes of fish has been produced in the State. During the financial year 2022-23, we hope to produce 2.95 lakh metric tonnes of fish.”
He said that it shows the result of the hard work of the government if the state made all rounded development.
The governor said that the cooperative movement in Jharkhand has gained ground. LAMPS/PACS are the backbone of the cooperative movement. In order to promote digitization in their functioning, 2024 LAMPS and 2374 PACS of the State are being computerized in a phased manner. Villages are the backbone for the development of the nation. Mahatma Gandhi had envisaged “Gram Swaraj” as the focal point of economic development of independent India. The State Government is also committed to the overall development of the villages by adopting Gandhian principles. Under the Aajivika Sashaktikaran Hunar Abhiyan, 26 lakh families of the State have been connected with sustainable means of livelihood.
