Ranchi, May 18: Candidates appearing for the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) main examination will now have the option to select one of the seven tribal languages of the state. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet here today.

Cabinet secretary Aditya Swaroop said according to the cabinet decision, the seven languages which have been included in the JPSC syllabus and can be taken up as optional subjects are Santhali, Mundari, Ho, Kharia, Oraon (Kudukh), Kurmali and Khortha.

The cabinet also decided to build 8,800 wells across the state. While the government will bear 80 per cent of the cost, the beneficiary will be required to contribute 20 per cent.

“Two wells will be constructed in each panchayat and each panchayat will have two beneficiaries. One of the two will be from Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe category. The names of the beneficiaries will be decided by the gram sabha,” he said, adding that the government will contribute nearly Rs 42 crore for the scheme.

He said 500 tubewells would be built in areas dominated by primitive tribes, while 800 will be constructed in the Naxalite-controlled areas.

The cost of the construction of each well (of 10-feet in diameter) will be around Rs 60,000, he added.