THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, March 10: The Jharkhand Assembly budget session witnessed heated exchanges on Tuesday, with opposition protests over corruption and law and order disrupting proceedings, while MLA Saryu Roy raised concerns about the state’s industrial development and lack of a manufacturing policy despite rich mineral resources.
Saryu Roy questions lack of manufacturing policy
Participating in the budget discussion, Saryu Roy said that Jharkhand possesses nearly 40 per cent of the country’s mineral resources, yet the state lacks a clear policy to develop manufacturing industries based on these resources.
He said this results in the continuous outflow of raw minerals while value-based industries fail to grow within the state.
Roy also expressed concern over technical education and skill development, citing studies that indicate over 80 per cent of engineering graduates lack practical engineering skills. He stressed the need to prepare youth for future industries through training in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and tools like ChatGPT.
Industrial scenario in Jharkhand
Highlighting the industrial landscape, Roy said the state currently has 26 mega industries, including Tata, along with 106 large and medium industries and more than 18,000 registered micro and small enterprises.
He informed the House that around ₹8,000 crore has been invested in industries, generating employment for nearly 63,000 people.
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On land acquisition, he noted that about 8,000 acres have been acquired by industrialists through direct negotiations with landowners, while only around 3,000 acres were acquired through government processes.
Roy emphasised that industrial policies should be reviewed every two to three years to keep pace with changing economic and technological conditions.
Opposition protest over corruption and law and order
Meanwhile, the House witnessed a major uproar as BJP MLAs protested against the government, raising slogans and storming the well with posters.
Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi alleged that corruption was rampant in the state and claimed the law and order situation was deteriorating.
He referred to the shooting of labour union leaders in Dumka, alleging that the accused had not yet been arrested. Marandi also raised concerns about incidents in Rajrappa and Giridih, and accused the government of allowing a system where no work gets done without money.
He demanded a detailed discussion on corruption and law and order in the House, claiming the state had become “a government of bureaucrats rather than of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.”
Government response and MLA marshalled out
Responding to the opposition, Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said that if the Business Advisory Committee decided, the issue could be discussed in the House. He maintained that law and order in the state are under control and said the government is taking action against corruption.
The situation escalated when BJP MLA Tiwari Mahto entered the well of the House during the protest. After a brief exchange involving Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu, the Speaker ordered Mahto to be marshalled out.
However, following the intervention of the Finance Minister, the MLA was later allowed to return to the House.