On behalf of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Girdhari Gope (Vice President, Stat eRJD unit) and Sanjay Ranjan Singh (representative), today demanded either a special status for Jharkhand or a special package of Rs 2.5 lakh crore @ 50,000 crores per year from the 16th Finance Commission delegation, which was on a three day visit to Jharkhand.
The RJD presented some major demands before the commission, keeping in mind the state's distinct socio-cultural identity, mineral wealth and historical neglect. The party said that the 16th Finance Commission should take policy decisions in accordance with the spirit of constitutional justice, regional inequality and local self-governance, not just a statistics-based revenue system.
The RJD, Jharkhand's 10 major demands include:
1. Fair compensation in lieu of exploitation of natural resources: Coal, iron, bauxite, uranium etc. have been exploited from mineral-rich Jharkhand for decades, but the state has not received reasonable benefits. Therefore, a special economic package should be provided in the form of Mineral Compensation Fund.
2. Special Financial Rights for Tribal Areas (Tribal Equity Fund): A separate Tribal Equity Fund should be established under the Fifth Schedule to economically empower the Scheduled Areas, so that PESA law, land conservation, culture and Gram Sabha can be strengthened.
3. Grant for employment rights of local residents: A special grant policy should be made to provide priority employment to local youth in areas affected by mining-industrial projects, which should be implemented through the CSR of the concerned companies and state funds.
4. Tribal assistance package for education, health and nutrition: A special package should be given for the empowerment of traditional medicine system, nutrition schemes, tribal hostels, and rural health services.
5. Jharkhand should be given the status of a special state and a special package of Rs 2.5 lakh crore: Keeping in mind the geographical disparity, social backwardness and underdeveloped infrastructure of the state, Jharkhand should be given the status of a special state.
RJD clearly demands that Jharkhand be provided a special financial package of Rs 2.5 lakh crore at the rate of Rs 50,000 crore per year for the next five years. This assistance is essential for investment in sectors like education, health, roads, irrigation, tribal development and local employment in the state.
6. Permanent Rehabilitation Fund for Displacement Victims: Permanent Displacement Justice Fund should be established for the rehabilitation and livelihood of lakhs of families displaced due to industry, dams, railways and mining projects.
7. Direct funding for Panchayat and Gram Sabha empowerment: By providing economic rights to the Gram Sabhas of PESA area, direct financial assistance should be ensured for Panchayat Secretariat construction, e-governance and schemes.
8. Special Development Package for Coal Belt Districts: Green-Rehabilitation and Employment Package should be provided to solve the problems of pollution, displacement and unemployment in coal belt areas like Dhanbad, Bokaro, Chatra, Giridih and Ramgarh.
9. Special funding for regional language and culture preservation: Special grants should be given to museums, academies and educational institutions for the preservation of languages like Santali, Mundari, Ho, Kurukh, Nagpuri etc. and tribal cultural heritage.
10. Assistance for water management and irrigation: A special package should be provided for rainwater harvesting, minor irrigation schemes, check dam construction and repair of traditional water sources in the state.
Conclusively, RJD, Jharkhand made it clear that despite the mineral, manpower and cultural contribution of the state, it has not got fair rights and financial share on its resources till date.
The party urged the 16th Finance Commission to recommend special state status to Jharkhand, a special package of ₹2.5 lakh crore, and equitable resources for local self-rule and inclusive development, keeping in mind the historical injustice and regional inequality.
