Ranchi, Aug. 29: Chief minister Hemant Soren and his father and JMM chief Shibu Soren today launched a mega clothes subsidy scheme for the poll-bound state, a charm offensive that will enable below-poverty-line populace to wear new clothes in the upcoming festive season.

Christened Sona-Sobran Saree-Dhoti Yojana, with Sona and Sobran being the names of Shibu’s parents, the scheme will offer enlisted 35.09 lakh BPL families and Antyodaya scheme beneficiaries their basic apparel such as dhoti, saree or lungi at Rs 10 each.

Each BPL household can avail of two dhotis, sarees and lungis in a year in two phases. The items will be distributed via public distribution system (PDS) outlets and channels.

On his part, the government will spend Rs 192 for a saree, Rs 175 for a lungi and Rs 155 for a dhoti. Mafatlal Industries will supply these items.

State food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department secretary Pradeep Kumar told The Telegraph that the state would bear the subsidy that would come to around Rs 150 crore annually.

Hemant and Shibu launched the scheme at Indoor Stadium, Dumka, and at Borio block headquarters in Sahebganj district, Rajmahal. Incidentally, both Lok Sabha seats of Dumka and Rajmahal are represented by JMM MPs — Shibu and Hemant protégé Vijay Hansdah — the only ones who swam against the NaMo wave in Jharkhand.

“My government has always been sensitive towards the poor,” Hemant said in Dumka during the launch. “Earlier, we hiked pension amounts meant for the poor, including senior citizens, widows and the disabled,” he said. “I am committed to provide all possible help to the poor and backward population of the state.”

With Assembly polls around the corner and disinterested coalition partners Congress and RJD, the JMM is feeling the pressure. Trying to change the perception of wishy-washy performance, the chief minister, in whirlwind trips across the state since the past week, is launching a slew of projects.

On August 27, Hemant visited Haatgamharia, West Singhbhum, where he inaugurated various building, bridge, road and other infrastructure projects worth over Rs 100 crore under government schemes. On the same day, he also went to Giridih to inaugurate an agriculture office, hostel building and road schemes worth some Rs 80 crore.

On August 26, Hemant inaugurated a district industry centre building in Ranchi and an administrative building of commercial taxes department in Jamshedpur, where he also reiterated the decision to slash VAT to 5 per cent from 10 per cent on motor parts.

It was expected that Election Commission of India would announce the schedule for Assembly polls in Jharkhand by August last week, but so far no dates have come. “The CM’s inauguration spree hints at the government trying to do something before poll dates are announced,” remarked a senior IAS in Project Building.