Soren slams BJP for closing 5,000 schools, lays foundation for 100 projects

Jharkhand CM accuses previous government of depriving poor children of education

Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren criticized the previous BJP government for closing 5,000 primary schools in rural areas, depriving children from poor adivasi, dalit, and backward sections of society of basic education, while laying the foundation for 100 development projects worth over Rs 119 crore in East Singhbhum district.

RANCHI – Speaking after laying the foundation of a degree college in Potka block of East Singhbhum district, Soren criticized the lack of attention towards education by the previous government.

During the day, he inaugurated three projects and laid the foundation for 100 development projects worth over Rs 119.19 crore. Soren also announced plans to provide state-sponsored housing to nine lakh homeless adivasi families under the Abua Awas scheme within the next three months.

The chief minister praised his government’s focus on developing basic infrastructure over the past four years, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic. He emphasised the importance of education in achieving development and outlined his government’s commitment to promoting education, enhancing scholarships, and ensuring access to higher education for all students. "We have been promoting education and ensured that no one should be deprived of higher education owing to want of money," Soren stated.

Criticizing the previous BJP government

"BJP’s double-engine government did not pay attention towards education sector but rather they closed down 5,000 primary schools in rural areas of the state to deprive children of adivasis, dalits and backward section of the society of basic education," Soren said. He accused the previous BJP government of allegedly attempting to destabilize the popularly elected government since his tenure began in 2019.

Rich mineral reserves in Potka block

Soren highlighted the rich mineral reserves in Potka block, including gold and uranium, but lamented the failure to achieve expected development in the region over the past 24 years. He pointed out that despite Jharkhand being a rich state with an abundance of mineral reserves, the adivasis of these areas are living below the poverty line.