CM Hemant Soren Stresses Last-Mile Delivery of Welfare Schemes in Rural Development Review Meeting

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday directed officials to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the last person standing in the line of development. Chairing a review meeting of the Rural Development Department at the Jharkhand Ministry, the Chief Minister said empowering gram panchayats and strengthening rural governance remain the government’s top priorities. Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh was also present during the meeting.

Reviewing rural housing schemes, the Chief Minister instructed officials to speed up the implementation of Abua Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin and Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas Yojana. He said families living without proper houses or in dilapidated mud structures should be identified and provided housing benefits on priority. He also emphasized timely completion of all rural housing targets.

The Chief Minister asked Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) to focus on expanding women self-help groups across the state. He said women associated with SHGs are playing a key role in strengthening the rural economy and should be connected with activities such as farming, solar energy production, jute processing and honey production. He directed officials to provide proper training and market support to help women become self-reliant.

CM Soren stressed the need to create better market opportunities for products made by SHGs. He directed officials to establish more Palash Mart-like sales centres at tourist destinations and even outside the state. Officials informed the meeting that the newly constructed Palash Mart building on Kanke Road in Ranchi is nearing completion and six more Palash Marts are planned this year, with a long-term goal of setting up such centres in every district.

Officials also informed that the process of forming 5,000 new Sakhi Mandals is underway, with a target of connecting nearly 60,000 families. The department aims to facilitate bank loans worth Rs 5,000 crore for SHGs and connect around 2.5 lakh more women with livelihood activities.

The Chief Minister further directed officials to include women associated with Maiyan Samman Yojana, widows, elderly women and specially-abled women in SHGs. He also asked the department to provide women with training in innovation and modern technology and prepare a roadmap for setting up “Didi Cafes” at Community Health Centres at the block level.

Reviewing lift irrigation and water conservation projects, the Chief Minister said water harvesting is crucial for the success of irrigation systems. He directed officials to involve villagers through gram panchayat meetings and accelerate all water conservation-related schemes under the Rural Development Department.

During the review of Birsa Harit Gram Yojana under MGNREGA, CM Soren said the scheme is significantly strengthening the rural economy. He asked officials to encourage farmers towards horticulture and ensure wider benefits of the scheme. Officials informed that women’s participation in the scheme has increased substantially and work is currently underway on nearly 1.5 lakh acres of land across the state.

The meeting also reviewed the National Rural Livelihood Mission, Women Farmers Empowerment Project, Deendayal Upadhyay Rural Skill Programme, Youth Skill Scheme, Watershed Projects and Birsa Tribal Development Schemes. Senior officials including Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, Development Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh and other departmental officers were present in the meeting.