NITI AYOG MEET
CM seeks greater Central support for Jharkhand’s inclusive growth
PNS
Ranchi
Seeking greater cooperation from the Centre to accelerate Jharkhand’s development, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday presented an ambitious roadmap for the state’s growth at the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, emphasizing the need to link the state’s abundant natural resources with human capital to create a prosperous and future-ready economy.
Addressing the meeting, Soren underscored the importance of inclusive and holistic development, asserting that Jharkhand’s rich mineral wealth would become truly meaningful only when it translated into opportunities for its people. He said the state should not be viewed merely as a supplier of minerals but as an active partner in India’s growth story.
The Chief Minister advocated value addition of mineral resources within the state through manufacturing and industrial development, arguing that such an approach would generate employment for Jharkhand’s skilled workforce. He sought the Centre’s support for establishing industries based on critical minerals, along with centres for research, innovation and knowledge development. He also called for large-scale investments in sectors such as textiles, electronics, green energy, logistics and agro-food processing.
Soren said the state government is promoting artificial intelligence-based mineral exploration and sustainable mining practices to transform Jharkhand into a major industrial and employment hub. Reiterating the state’s commitment to the vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047,” he identified education, healthcare and skill development as the key pillars of long-term growth.
Highlighting progress in social sectors, the Chief Minister noted that although nearly 15,000 of Jharkhand’s 38,000 Anganwadi centres still lack dedicated buildings, nutrition indicators have improved through initiatives such as Poshan Abhiyan and SAAMAR. The state is providing eggs daily to children and constructing 5,000 new Anganwadi buildings from its own resources.
In the education sector, Soren said students from CM Schools of Excellence are now securing admissions to IITs and medical colleges. The government is working towards establishing 5,000 model schools and has requested the Centre to increase the number of PM SHRI Schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas in Jharkhand, besides setting up a regional NCERT centre in the state.
Presenting the state’s employment and skilling initiatives, he said more than one lakh youths are being connected to employment opportunities annually. Under the SARATHI scheme, around 6.76 lakh young people have received training, while youth are being prepared for emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, drones and solar energy. He added that 53,000 women have been trained in modern technological fields.
On healthcare, the Chief Minister stressed the need to extend services to the panchayat level, noting that 1,276 medicine outlets are currently operating in rural areas. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to create AI-based digital health profiles and urged approval of pending proposals to increase medical education seats.
Soren further showcased achievements in sports, agriculture and digital governance, citing the development of over one million nutrition gardens, fruit plantations across 1.5 lakh acres, and the export of Jharkhand-grown mangoes to international markets.
Among the key demands placed before the Centre were the immediate release of the remaining ₹6,000 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission, settlement of ₹1.36 lakh crore in pending coal company dues, revision of District Mineral Foundation Trust norms, simplification of land acquisition procedures, and approval for two pending medical colleges under the PPP model.
“Our focus is on the overall development of Jharkhand. The state’s abundant natural resources must be integrated with human capital to create a prosperous, self-reliant and future-ready Jharkhand in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047,” Soren said.
