Workers and farmers will not have to go outside in search for jobs: Chief Minister

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the workers and farmers of the state will not have to go out in search of jobs to other states as the government has initiated steps in this direction.

During a visit to the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums located at Namkum here he said that workers who are coming back to state due to Coronavirus will be provided jobs in their own villages and panchayats. He said that in context of Jharkhand cultivation of lac and products made by it will be a better medium to create employment for the people. He said that the government is trying to bring the people of the rural areas towards lac cultivation for which all necessary resources are being provided.

The Chief Minister said that it was only Institute of the country which is known across the world for cultivation of lac and its research. He said that cultivation of lac creates employment for large number of rural families but unfortunately the institution and lac cultivation was going through tough times as the art of making products from lac was being lost but the government was committed to take all necessary steps for its revival.

He said that the state government has already initiated steps to create more employment in Jharkhand as part of which three schemes of the rural development department has been started and with passage of time their area would be further expanded. He said that the government was making analysis of value addition in the sector after which employment will be provided to the people accordingly.

The Chief Minister said that workers in lakh are coming back to the state and creating jobs for them will be a challenge however that challenge needed to be converted into an opportunity for which the government is making an assessment of its internal resources and as part of the strategy a visit to the Institute was done.

He said that there was no lack of resources in the state and the only need was to use them in a proper manner. He hoped that the state government will be sucessful in its efforts as not only jobs for the locals would be created but even people from other states will be able to come here for jobs.

The Chief Minister went around the campus and also collected information regarding its work and research. Director of the Institute Dr KK Sharma detailed the Chief Minister regarding its functioning and suggested that it will be beneficial if lac cultivation is linked with Birsa Harit Gram Yojana.

Those present included MLA Rajesh Kacchap, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajeev Arun Ekka, IPRD Director Rajeev Lochan Bakshi and others.