State financial-cum-food and supplies civilian minister Rameshwar Oraon said that in the last two years since the formation of a coalition government, they were pitted against many obstacles mainly triggered because Covid-19, the income of poor and shortage of appropriate policies in several domains, but they managed to step continuous-step welfare for the poor and marginalized in spite of obstacles.
He, however, said that despite the formation of a separate state two decades ago, when the state continues to remain a Rajya Gareeb (poor countries), it is only because the BJP-led government at the Center.
He spoke to select journalists at his residence on Tuesday ahead of the second anniversary of the regime led by Hemant Soren, whose party – the Congress – is a key alliance partners.
Excerpts: – Those in power often call the poor state of Jharkhand.
As finance minister, what are your priorities for fiscal management? If Jharkhand continues to remain a Rajya Garib, I truly believe it is because the government at the Center.
This is because they sit in crores pending dues for our country despite several demands from our end but to no avail.
For example, Coal India, the central government entities, has acquired 53,000 hectares of land the state government for their different projects over the years.
But we did not get a legitimate dues in return.
As judged by our past, some Rs 65,000 crore are pending for the state government since.
Similarly, about Rs 10,000 crore water dues pending with different public sector undertakings (PSU) to the state.
Since the coalition government came to power, the cry of funds crisis.
But in some departments, failed to get the funds allocated are often exploited.
We are not lying when we say the treasury empty after taking over.
But during my tenure, I introduced several initiatives to bring fiscal prudence and discipline to ensure that we are not just spending, but in a legal way to get the desired results.
Our focus behind spend every penny is pro-people, pro-poor.
Please elaborate steps were taken for fiscal discipline.
For the first time, we introduce the budget results since last year, which is the reality of the money spent and the desired results.
This year also, we will publish interim results tabling the budget next fiscal budget in the assembly.
This apart, for the first time, we started the concept of ‘sinking fund’, in which we focus also shifted to savings.
Such an individual to save money for the bad times, the state government also had to save, and not just spend.
As a result, we managed to collect Rs 500 crore at RBI under the sinking fund account.
While the state government and accused the Congress Center on the price of fuel, now shying away from the VAT reduction I have said from the beginning that responsibility rested with the set fuel prices and the central government should decrease.
Our government never rose to any degree.
As far as the price of gasoline and diesel is concerned, by and large, are still lower than in neighboring countries.
This means the country will not reduce VAT fuel although other Cong ruled states do? the government will take the call at the right time.
Along with poverty, hunger is a major concern in the state under this rule, do not die of hunger vis-à-vis the trend in the previous government as we ensure that no poor PDS rejected.
Although, some disturbance in the soil may still be there, we sort out a case by case basis.
In addition to those included in the National Security Act of Food, we provide ration cards to 15 lakh people are more qualified.
There are cases where people are not worthy already have a ration card, and we are conducting a crackdown and from time to time.
Another of the government’s greatest achievement is included clothing (dhoti-sari) scheme for the poor, and the launch of a universal pension scheme.
In two years, we have worked to fulfill the promises made to voters one by one.