Jharkhand can scale new heights even in tough times: Governor CP Radhakrishnan in maiden speech

RANCHI: "During the corona epidemic, the per capita income of Jharkhand was Rs 71,071 in the year 2020-21, which increased to Rs 78,660 in 2021-22.
These figures indicate that Jharkhand has the potential to scale new heights of success even in adverse circumstances," these were the opening remarks of governor CP Radhakrishnan while addressing the members of Jharkhand assembly here on Monday - the first day of the budget session.
Unlike previous occasions, members of treasury and opposition benches gave a patient hearing to the governor's 40-minute maiden speech, read out in English. Seeking an excuse for not being "well versed" in Hindi, Radhakrishnan read out the achievements of the state government covering almost every aspect.
He said during the pandemic when the country's GDP growth rate was minus 6.6%, Jharkhand managed a GDP growth rate of minus 5.5% in 2020-21, which soon bounced back to 8.2% in the year 2021-22.
Mentioning adversaries faced by the state, he said 226 blocks in 22 districts have been declared drought-hit for which a relief package of Rs 9,681 crore has been sought from the Centre. "For immediate relief, our government has transferred Rs 461 crore under Mukhya Mantri Sukhaad Rahat Yojna in the bank accounts of more than 13 lakh farmers at the rate of Rs 3,500 per family," he said.
Radhakrishnan enumerated achievements in the field of fisheries, tussar silk production and coverage of large section of population under Jharkhand food security scheme. "The state government has implemented Sarvajan Pension Yojna extending benefits to 21 lakh families and increased the scholarship amount given to pre-matric and post-matric students," the governor said, sharing details of international scholarship schemes, introduced for SC-ST minorities and backward class students for education in universities of Britain and Northern Ireland.
"To ensure people's participation in governance, the government launched Aapke Adhikar Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar and collected 55 lakh grievances through camps of which around 35 lakh have already been disposed of," the governor said, adding that if there is a passion to take the state forward and if policy decisions are taken with honest intentions, the dream of strong and developed Jharkhand can be realised.
Prior to his address, a section of bureaucrats in the officers cabin did not stand during the national anthem, for which BJP chief whip Biranchi Narayan raised an objection. The matter was, however, not given much credence.
The first day concluded with obituary remarks, paying homage to the people who died during the period between the winter session and the current session of the assembly. The speaker, leader of House and other members paid tributes to seven-time MP Sharad Yadav, former minister Lal Hemandra Pratap Dehati, educationist Silvia Bage, former governor Pundit KEsrinath, former Union minister Siddheshwar Prasad and Ramkripal Sinha and several others.