Jharkhand

• 29 Jan 2024

Houses for Poor in Jharkhand by 2027

Why in News?

Recently, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that the state government would provide 20 lakh houses to the poor in the state by 2027, in an event at Torpa in Khunti district.

Key Points

• These houses were provided under a state government-sponsored housing scheme, ‘Abua Awas Yojana' (AAY).
  • The state government has launched the 'Abua Awas Yojana' (My House) and sought applications for the scheme during the 'Apki Yojana, Apki Sarkar, Apke Dwar' campaign.
  • The scheme was a first-of-its-kind initiative after the formation of Jharkhand in 2000.
• During the programme, the CM also distributed approval letters and the first installment for the housing scheme to more than 8,000 beneficiaries from Khunti and Simdega.

Apki Yojana, Apki Sarkar, Apke Dwar campaign

• Under this program, camps will be organized in 4,351 panchayats and 50 wards of the state. In these camps, the needy people who were till now deprived of the schemes will be covered with public welfare schemes.
• In the camps organized at Panchayat and Ward level, benefits of new schemes like Abu Awas Yojana, Birsa Irrigation Well Scheme, matters related to community and individual forest lease, Guruji Student Credit Card Scheme will be given.

Abua Awas Yojana (AAY)

• Under this scheme, the state government will provide housing to the needy people from its own fund by spending more than Rs 15,000 crore in the next two years.
• Three room houses will be provided to the poor, deprived, labourers, farmers, tribals, backward and Dalits.   

Jharkhand Government Brings Down Age for Pension Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, the Jharkhand cabinet approved the proposal to include all women, tribals and Dalits above 50 years in its old-age pension scheme.

• Earlier, those above 60 years used to get the benefit of the scheme, under which Rs 1,000 is provided to each beneficiary per month.

Key Points

• The initiative comes under the Mukhya Mantri Rajya Vridhavastha Pension Yojana. Around 18 lakh people would be benefited by the decision.
  • A total of 35.68 lakh people already get the benefit of the scheme.
• 25 other proposals were also approved by the cabinet, including the distribution of 'Matri Kit' to pregnant women.
  • The kit, worth around Rs 1,500, will have 14 materials, including a mosquito net, a cotton saree, a cotton towel and a toothpaste. 6 lakh pregnant women will be benefited by it.
• The cabinet also granted several other approvals, such as:
  • The appointment of Yogendra Prasad as the chairman of the State Backward Commission for three years.
  • A job and cash award of Rs 5 lakh to Vinita Oraon, a resident of Vrinda Nayak Toli village in Gumla district.
    • Oraon killed an area commander of the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) during an attack on May 5, 2020.
  • Upgrading 146 middle schools to high schools.

Mukhya Mantri Rajya Vridhavastha Pension Yojana

• The primary objective of this scheme is to extend financial support to vulnerable elderly citizens of the state.
• Through the provision of a ₹1,000 monthly pension, the government aims to reduce the dependence of senior citizens on others for their financial needs.
• The scheme emphasizes self-reliance for elderly citizens, particularly those living below the poverty line.

People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI)

• It is a militant Maoist outfit formed in 2007 in Jharkhand.
• Earlier it was known as Jharkhand Liberation Tigers (JLT) founded by Dinesh Gope a resident of Khunti district, Jharkhand in 2003.

Jharkhand State Backward Commission

• It is a permanent body which has been constituted as per provisions of the Jharkhand State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 2002.