PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, April 29: The two most ambitious schemes started by Chief Minister Hemant Soren of employment generation and subsidy on petrol have failed to come on the ground.
The purpose behind introducing both the schemes was to give relief to the people of the state from rising petrol prices and by generating employment for the people of the state, but the current status of the schemes shows a downward trend.
Given the rising petrol prices, the subsidy scheme for petrol had been started in the state on 26 January 2022. Under the scheme, the government is giving a subsidy of Rs 25 per litre on petrol for two-wheelers.
But, surprisingly, the number of people taking this subsidy is decreasing with the increase in the prices of petrol in Jharkhand. In January, the number of people who took petrol subsidies in the state was 1.15 lakh, which came down to just 23,705 by the end of March.
On the other hand, under the Chief Minister Employment Generation Scheme 2021-22, 1672 Scheduled Tribes, 682 Scheduled Castes, 1180 Backward Classes, 70 Divyang and 249 minority people gave loan applications for self-employment. A total of 3,853 people’s applications were approved, against which a total of Rs 59.61 crore was allocated.
During a review meeting of the welfare schemes held on Monday (April 25), the CM had directed that the benefit of the Chief Minister Employment Generation Scheme (CMEGS) should be given to maximum people.
“It has been one year since the scheme was implemented, but the results are not showing as expected. Make sure to give the benefit of this scheme in a big way. For this, the department should prepare an action plan within a week,” the CM said.
The chief minister had also directed to put up posters in Panchayat Bhawan and Anganwadi centres to make people aware of the employment generation scheme.
“Give information about the process of taking a loan in those posters. So that people can get the benefit from the scheme. We have to ensure an increase in the number of self-employed adopters by taking loans. Issue directive to give the benefit of the scheme to all the needy. It needs to be promoted more in rural areas. Make a camp and inform people about it. Camps should be organized every month,” said CM Soren.
