Jharkhand

• 18 Mar 2024

Jharkhand Announces Free Bags For Students

Why in News?

Recently, the Jharkhand government announced to provide school bags to around 37 lakh students enrolled in Classes I to VIII in the state-run schools besides the books and other logistics provided to them as part of the school kit each year.

Key Points

• The announcement was made after the Chief Minister chaired a Cabinet meeting before the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections.
• A total of 53 proposals were taken up during the Cabinet meeting, most of which comprised road projects, irrigation and water supply works, rural development.
  • The Government will provide a one-time refilling of gas cylinders per anganwadi every three months.
  • To set up the Jharkhand Millet Mission Rs. 50 crore was approved.
    • The government aims to expand the area under millet cultivation from the present, 40,000 hectares to 5,00,000 hectares over the next five years.
  • Rs. 80 crore were sanctioned under the Kisan Samriddhi Yojana, which aims to provide solar based irrigation facilities to the farmers.

Note

The Government of Jharkhand is promoting Millets specially Ragi (Finger Millet) which is grown in the state in a very scattered manner. Due to the high nutritive value the State Government is promoting millets under State livelihood Policy which is under the Department of Panchayat, and is mostly served in midday meal for school children & hospitals.

Jharkhand CM Lays Foundations of Degree Colleges

Why in News?

Recently, Jharkhand Chief Minister inaugurated the foundation stone laying for a new degree college in Chaibasa’s Hatgamharia and Bandgaon, enhancing education in West Singhbhum under Kolhan University.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of 135 schemes at a cost of over Rs 2 billion, 31 crore, while the inauguration of 27 schemes worth over Rs 1 billion 7 crore was completed.
  • Assets worth over Rs 1 billion 72 crore were distributed among beneficiaries.
• The introduction of the degree colleges under Kolhan University is expected to significantly impact the region’s educational landscape.
  • This initiative aligns with the state’s broader objectives of promoting higher education and facilitating accessible educational opportunities for its youth.
  • Teaching of tribal and regional languages like Kudukh, Ho, Mundari and Santhali is being started from primary schools.
• According to the Chief Minister many schemes have been started by the government to strengthen the education system of the state.
  • To ensure that children’s education is not interrupted due to financial constraints, the scholarship amount has been increased three times.
  • Girl students are being linked to Savitribai Kishori Savitri Yojana.
  • Through the Guruji Credit Card Scheme, education loans up to Rs 15 lakh are being given to students for pursuing courses like medical engineering.
  • Under the Manki Munda Scholarship Scheme, financial assistance is being given to girl students for technical education.
  • The state government is giving 100% scholarship to the tribal, Dalit, minority and backward class students for higher education abroad.

Savitribai Kishori Savitri Yojana

• It aims to emphasize on girl education, ending child marriage and women empowerment.
• Under this scheme, adolescent girls have to be enabled to take independent decisions regarding their lives.
• Under this the state government is giving assistance of Rs 40,000 to adolescent girls for good education.
  • Rs 2500 will be given to girl students in class 8, Rs 2500 in class 9, Rs 5000 in class 10, Rs 5000-5000 in class 11th and 12th and Rs 20,000 to adolescent girls on completion of 18 to 19 years.
  • In this way, a total of 40 thousand rupees will be given to the adolescent girls.

Guruji Student Credit Card Scheme

• This scheme was launched on 14th March, 2024 by the Jharkhand government.
• Under the Guruji Student Credit Card Scheme, students will get a maximum loan of Rs 15 lakh. A maximum of 30% of this amount will be available for non-institutional work (including living and food expenses).
• Students will have to pay a simple rate of interest of 4%. The rest of the interest will be paid by the state government in the form of interest subvention.
• Students will not need to give any kind of collateral security to take a loan. Students will be able to repay the loan amount in 15 years.
• The interest on the loan that the children will take will be calculated at the rate of simple interest. It will remain fixed for the entire tenure of the loan.

Manki Munda Scholarship Scheme

• This scheme was launched on 14^th March, 2024, by the Jharkhand government
• Under the Manki Munda Scholarship scheme, girl students will receive Rs 15,000 per annum for diploma courses and Rs 30,000 per annum for engineering courses.