ORAON URGES UNION MIN FOR INCREASED RLY NETWORK, FUND ALLOCATION
RANCHI: Planning and finance minister Rameshwar Oraon on Tuesday requested the Centre to focus on increasing railway network in Jharkhand and augment fund allocation in various development schemes while talking to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman through video conferencing.
Taking part in Sitharaman’s pre-budget deliberations with the state finance ministers through video conferencing, Oraon also urged upon Sitharaman to increase the central component of various pensions given to beneficiaries of social security schemes. He said the state government gives ₹1,000 in widow/old age/disability pension every month, in which the Centre’s contribution is ₹300.
The Narandra Modi-led central government would present the Union budget 2021-22 on February 1.
Oraon mentioned that railway connectivity is one of the major parameters of development and informed that several pockets of Jharkhand were yet to have railway connectivity.
He said Jharkhand’s revenue generation was impacted to a great extent and appealed the Union finance minister to pay state’s goods and service tax in time. He also laid emphasis on increasing allocations to different scholarship schemes to encourage children from weak economic background to avail education and higher studies.
Outlining the works done by the state government and its major achievements, Oraon reminded Sitharaman that Jharkhand remained on top with regard to Pradhanmantri Awas Yojana, and came third in awarding jobs under MNREGA.
He also mentioned that Jharkhand endeavoured to provide 15 lakh new ration cards to bring more people under the National Food Security Act and pleaded that an increased allocation would help the state in fighting poor economy following the pandemic.