Jamshedpur: In an apparent bid to put an end to the ongoing protests against the state government�s decision to sell liquor from August 1, Chief Minister Raghubar Das here on Monday announced plans to completely ban liquor in Jharkhand in a phased manner through public cooperation.
�The sale and distribution of liquor in the state would be controlled through the Jharkhand Beverages Corporation Limited for the time being. There is a need to spread awareness among the people on the hazards of liquor consumption.
Once people become aware, we will make sure that liquor sale and consumption is totally banned in the state. The support and cooperation of the people will be quintessential in such an endeavour on part of the state government since more than anything else the liquor ban is a social issue,� said the CM, addressing scribes at a press conference organized here at the Circuit House.
The CM further said that out of the 1 per cent funds spent by Tata Steel under its Corporate Social Responsibility obligations, Rs 15 crore will be spent on East Singhbhum and West Singhbhum each under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) every year. �The fund so allotted will be utilized to make the districts open defecation free (ODF). Besides this, Tata Motors will start work on making 45 villages of East Singhbhum ODF,� he said.
Das said the state government would be expediting work on skill development in the state. �The youths of the state would be made skilled in different trades. They will be provided loans under various government schemes after they acquire the required skills in order to prepare them for self employment. Apart from this, the education system in the state has to be improved qualitatively so that the chances for a brighter future increase for the young generation,� he said.
The CM said the various government departments including education and police will be making 45,000 recruitments in the month of July this year. He said in a bid to motivate Primitive Tribe members, separate all men and all women battalions have been set up to induct such people.
Das further said that women will be empowered through the formation of Udyami Sakhi Mandals across the state. In the coming days, these Mandals will be made economically self dependent.
Speaking on the recently concluded Momentum Jharkhand Global Investors� Summit, the CM said, �Investment is needed in every field for the overall development of the state so that development projects could be implemented in far-flung areas.
This will also help generate more job opportunities and provide employment and necessary resources for earning to the poor people of the state.
This is why we are training people and promoting production and investment by them here in the state itself. The government is doing every bit to make the state economically prosperous and include it in the list of rich states.�