Jharkhand Govt raises women’s financial aid to Rs 30,000 from Rs 12,000 annually, ahead of elections

The Jharkhand cabinet has approved a substantial increase in financial assistance for women under the Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana (JMMSY). The annual aid will now rise from Rs 12,000 to Rs 30,000, translating to a monthly increase from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500. This initiative aims to benefit over 50 lakh women across the state and is scheduled to take effect in December 2024. The implementation of this enhanced support will introduce an additional financial burden of approximately Rs 9,000 crore on the state government’s budget.

Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel announced that the increased monthly assistance will be directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts. This move is intended to provide greater financial stability and support to women in Jharkhand. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, while addressing the media, emphasized the government's commitment to women's welfare and asserted that this decision reflects a genuine effort to address their needs rather than merely political posturing.

In addition to the increase in financial assistance, the cabinet meeting also approved various other initiatives. These include the establishment of residential schools in the Kolhan division, Chaibasa, Santhal Pargana division, Dumka, and Bokaro district. The government allocated funds for road reconstruction projects, specifically approving a budget of Rs 109 crore for the "Bilaspur-Dhurki" road construction.

Furthermore, the cabinet approved regulations for the implementation of Multiple Entry-Multiple Exit systems in state universities and a Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYGUP) in accordance with the National Education Policy-2020. This aligns with efforts to enhance the educational framework in Jharkhand and provide students with more flexible learning options.