Jharkhand Budget 2022: New education loan scheme; airport at Sahebganj

RANCHI: Announcing a slew of schemes aimed at benefiting the deprived sections, the Jharkhand government in its budget on Thursday proposed the Guruji Credit Card scheme to provide educational loans to students for higher education at nominal interest.

The JMM-led Jharkhand government unveiled a Rs 1.01-lakh crore budget for the 2022-23 fiscal, with higher spending on sectors like health and infrastructure. "For educational loan, banks ask for collateral security. But, poor students are generally not able to provide it. In such cases, they miss the opportunity of higher education. Under Guruji Credit Card, the state government will be the guarantor for such loan," said Principal Secretary, Finance department Ajoy Kumar Singh during a post-Budget briefing here.

Also read | ICSE, ISC Date Sheet 2022: CISCE releases Class 10, 12 semester 2 exam date sheet

Mukhyamantri Sarathi Scheme has also been proposed to help degree-holding students to prepare for competitive examinations. The budget also provided for the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Trans-national Scholarship scheme will now be extended to students of Scheduled Caste, Backward and Minority communities. Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon said that recognising that funds are insufficient for the entire family to reside in small houses built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Rural), the state government has plans to provide Rs 50,000 per house for the construction of an additional room from the state fund. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), the construction work of 10.44 lakh houses has been completed so far and the remaining 5.22 lakh houses are likely to be completed in the next fiscal, he said.

Also read | Jamia Millia Placements: MBA students placed with Rs 9 lakh average salary, Rs 25 lakh highest

The government also announced 100 units of electricity free for the poor and the farmers to reduce the electricity bill burden on them. Besides, in a bid to encourage start-ups in the state, the finance minister has proposed a Start-up Capital Venture Fund in the budget. For 2022-23, a sum of Rs 50 crore has been proposed. Also, the Jharkhand government announced plans to set up an airport in Sahebganj to extend air travel facilities in the Santhal region of the state. Besides, the government has also proposed air ambulance services at minimum cost through a wet-lease.

Also read | IIM Bangalore MBA students to host Unmaad 2022 from March 4 to 6

Finance Minister said to provide health facilities to the families from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in rural areas, a bike ambulance service will also be started. Setting up of a Medico City in Ranchi is also proposed in the budget. The government said children under Anganwadi Centres will now be given woollen uniforms. The state finance minister said around 15 lakh children will be benefited from the scheme.