Ranchi- Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who was jailed earlier this year in a money laundering case, marked 100 days in office since his release with a powerful statement. He vowed to keep fighting for Jharkhand’s rights, including its ₹1.36 lakh crore dues from the Centre, for which he said he was imprisoned.

"If working for my people is a crime, I will keep committing it," he declared. "My crime was only that I was serving the people of Jharkhand, fighting for their rights and entitlements. If that’s a crime, I will keep committing it again and again," Soren declared, emphasizing his unyielding commitment to the people. He added, “Jharkhand has never bowed to anyone, nor will I ever let it bow down.”

The statement comes a day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Soren used this milestone to reflect on his government’s achievements since coming to power in December 2019 and to rally support for the elections.

A Vision for a Stronger Jharkhand

Soren recalled the challenges he inherited when he took office, particularly the exploitation and neglect of the state's resources during the two decades of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule.

"For 20 years, the BJP plundered Jharkhand with both hands, leaving the poor, marginalized, and underprivileged struggling for basic necessities like social security. Our tribal, Dalit, backward, and minority communities were yearning for lost dignity, and our children longed for better education and jobs," he said.

The Chief Minister highlighted the strides his government has made in addressing these systemic issues, with a focus on improving social security, education, employment, and healthcare.

'Jharkhand the first state to supply oxygen to the entire country'

Soren lauded the state's efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that Jharkhand was one of the first states to bring its migrant workers home via special trains and flights. "Our women associated with the Sakhi Mandal stepped up during the pandemic, providing nutritious food to returnees without fearing for their own safety," he said. Despite inheriting a weakened healthcare system, Jharkhand became the first state to supply oxygen to the entire country during the crisis.

He also mentioned the swift implementation of rural employment programs such as the Birsa Harit Gram Yojana and the Neelambar-Peetambar Jal Samridhi Yojana to secure livelihoods during the lockdown.

Soren underscored the efforts made by his government to uplift Jharkhand’s underprivileged sections. Under his leadership, millions of families were connected to welfare schemes like the universal pension plan, hara ration card, and the Abua Awas Yojana, which provided housing for the poor. Additionally, his administration waived off electricity bills and provided free power to alleviate the burden of rising inflation.

Farmers, too, were a central focus of his governance. "We waived off loans up to ₹2 lakh for farmers, introduced the Kisan Credit Card and the Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Yojana, and helped our hardworking farmers through the Birsa Sinchai Koop Yojana," Soren remarked.

Women and Youth at the Heart of Development

Soren celebrated his government’s efforts to restore the dignity of Jharkhand’s women through schemes like the Maiya Samman Yojana and the Phulo Jhano Aashirwad Abhiyan, which provided financial independence and recognition. He also announced a monthly honorarium of ₹2,500 for women between the ages of 18 and 50, starting this December.

For the youth, Soren launched the CM School of Excellence and tripled the pre- and post-matriculation scholarship amounts. "Our initiatives like the Guruji Student Credit Card, the Marang Gomke Overseas Scholarship, and the distribution of bicycles are aimed at giving wings to their dreams," he said.

Soren touched upon the significance of the 1932 Khatiyan-based policy, the push for 27% reservation for backward classes, and the demand for the inclusion of the Sarna tribal religion code in the Census. "These are issues tied to Jharkhand’s identity, and despite the challenges posed by the opposition, we passed these in the assembly and sent them to the central government for approval," he asserted.

He also noted that for the first time in the state’s history, an Adivasi Mahotsav was celebrated, honoring the rich tribal culture of Jharkhand.

Despite the progress, Soren acknowledged that much work remains. "The opposition has left Jharkhand far behind over the past 20 years, and we have to work even harder to move it forward," he said. With the assembly elections approaching, Soren called on the people to unite against the BJP’s "money power, lies, and divisive politics," vowing to build a prosperous, developed Jharkhand together with their support.

As Soren continues his fight for Jharkhand’s rights, his message is clear: "No matter how many conspiracies are hatched against me, no matter how many obstacles they throw, we will keep moving forward together."