At first official meet, Soren discusses Rs. 10,280 crore additional burden on Jharkhand

According to sources, the Maiya Samman Yojana, under which monthly disbursement to eligible women beneficiaries will go up to Rs. 2,500 from Rs. 1,000 later this month, and programs related to the rural and power sectors were among the key projects that were discussed.

“Today I met with all departmental heads and secretaries to review modalities related to projects, the progress of ongoing work and the functioning of the government. Now there will be separate discussions and assessments with those in charge of departments,” Soren, who was in judicial custody when a budget of Rs. 1.28 lakh crore for the state was passed in February, said.

“We will now proceed towards speeding up developmental work and the requirements for this, so that those concerned can begin work in this direction as soon as the government is fully constituted; I have issued directions to ensure that projects are delivered on the ground in the minimum possible time; (as well) as reporting any issues so that they can be sorted out, he also said.

While the monthly welfare disbursal program dedicated to women beneficiaries in the state constitutes a lion’s share of the additional financial burden on the state’s exchequer at an estimated Rs. 7,300 crore, sources said a little over Rs. 2,500 crore was related to schemes under the power sector. These include around Rs. 1,800 crore in relation to the waiver of pending power bills and an estimated Rs. 760 crore in connection with subsidy on power bills up from 125 to 200 units. Around Rs. 250 crore are related to the state’s flagship agricultural program, the Birsa Fasal Bima Yojana and the remaining Rs. 140 crore, according to sources, pertain to recruitments in government services as well as home guards.

Underlining the need to increase government revenue on the hand and plug leaks after analysing the current revenue generation system at a micro level, Soren directed all departments concerned to prepare action plans on revenue generation and seamless coordination, government officials said.

Asking for them to be established as business models, the chief minister also issued instructions to see how various agencies, boards and councils under government departments could be utilised for increased and efficient revenue collection even as he reiterated the crucial role that taxation played for the state’s revenue.

“Tax is required for the progress of the state, to give speed to its development, to find solutions for its problems, for jobs and employment,” Soren said, adding that the process of government formation, especially the constitution of its 12-member cabinet, would be done over the coming days.