‘Jharkhand devising plan after ‘unconstitutional harassment’ by Centre’
Ranchi, Mar 07 (PTI):
Alleging “unconstitutional harassment” by the Centre over funds, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said pushed to the brink, the state is now devising its own innovative resource generation mechanism for self-sustenance.
Alleging unequal treatment, the chief minister of the JMM-led alliance in the state said tribal-rich state has been all along exploited and plundered.
Soren was sworn in as the 11th chief minister of the state in December 2019.
“There has been unconstitutional harassment to us…Centre diverted the funds of the state from Jharkhand’s account with the Reserve Bank of India towards clearing the dues of Damodar Valley Corporation…Perhaps this is the first such instance in the country, which is unheard of …The allocation is made programme-wise and you cannot spend it anywhere else,” Soren told PTI in an interview.
Soren alleged that the previous BJP-ruled regime had not paid DVC dues for five years but not only the state was forced to undergo unprecedented power crisis but faced resource crunch. “Funds were diverted from our RBI consolidated fund …GST dues were there…We got jolts after jolts. By default this state has so much resources that we support others. We can support the country but it is very unfortunate that we are not able to run our own house under the circumstance… so how can we think about others….Now we are devising innovative resource generation mechanism for self-sustenance and development,” Soren said. A federal structure needs that all pillars are strengthened, he said. This tribal-dominated state is fed up of announcements of developments which have never translated into reality and no efforts were made during the last two decades to make it self-reliant, he said adding such policies are being framed by the state that Jharkhand will not have to look towards the Centre for every requirement. Alleging lack of long-term plans for Jharkhand, Soren said: “We are not finding anything on ground… GST, demonetisation were done in the name of financial reforms. U turn was given to a 100 year system suddenly instead of gradual reforms…Now the condition of people whether farmers, businessmen or others is not good.”
As innovative resource planning, he said, the state has levied some cess on forest produce and minerals.
“We have changed some rules in transport and other sectors to generate some resources. Some more reforms are in the pipeline…we are studying these.
