Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) chief cum Finance Minister, Rameshwar Oraon on Tuesday urged the Central Government to increase the Central assistance available in social security schemes including pension for widows, old age and disabled persons.

Talking to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman through video conferencing, Oraon said that the State Government is currently providing Rs 1000 per beneficiary for social security pension schemes, whereas the Central Government is only giving Rs 300.

Speaking to reporters at Congress Bhawan in the State Capital Oraon said that to expand the railway line facilities in the State, the Central Government has been requested for cooperation to connect districts like Khunti, Chatra, Gumla by rail route. “There is a difficulty in spending the amount for development schemes, while the tax collection of the states has also decreased since the implementation of the GST, so the Central Government should not reduce or cut the amount for the development schemes. The Central Government should increase the amount of scholarship,” he added.

Replying to a question, Oraon said that former Chief Minister, Babulal Marandi alleged that some MLAs of the ruling party have been meeting with the Naxalites, he wants to suggest Marandi that he should write a confidential letter to the Chief Minister and inform about the MLAs of the ruling party are meeting the Naxalites.

Oraon said that as far as the State Government's work is concerned, Jharkhand has got the third place in the entire Country under the scheme of MGNREGA in providing employment to the people of the State, in the Prime Minister Housing Scheme, Jharkhand is number one and in case of health facilities the State has achieved amazing efficiency, in the case of PDS 15 lakh people have been connected with ration cards.

On this occasion JPCC spokespersons Alok Kumar Dubey, Lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo and Rajesh Gupta were also present.