Jharkhand feted as new leader

Ranchi: Chief minister Raghubar Das announced the setting up of an MEA extension centre in Ranchi and provided jobs to 28,000 people at the state's maiden Skill Summit-2018 on the occasion of the 155th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on Friday while a visiting Union minister celebrated the accomplishments by claiming that Jharkhand was the new leader for other states to follow.

"Those in the Opposition often say that under PM Narendra Modi, jobs have dried up. They are misguiding people. Come to Jharkhand and see how we are providing skills to people and placing them," Das said, mentioning Swamiji as the inspiration for his government.

" Kisi ne kar dikhaya hai toh wo hai Jharkhand, Jharkhand, Jharkhand," he signed off after making a flurry of announcements. First, Ranchi would host a Videsh Bhavan and second, the government would work with registered placement agencies to ensure local residents could aspire for offshore jobs, thereby curbing illegal migration of labour.

Three, he also set a target of placing one lakh youths in private jobs next year even as the summit saw the announcement that job letters would be handed over to 28,000 people to be placed in more than 140 companies. Of these, 6,000 people got their letters on Friday, while the rest were promised theirs over email.

The venue, Harivansh Tana Bhagat Stadium at the mega sports complex in Hotwar, was decked up tastefully with massive banners of the Prime Minister and the chief minister hanging from the roof of the arena. The proceedings began at 11am and continued for over two hours. Over 10,000 people were present on the occasion.

Union minister for petroleum and skill development Dharmendra Pradhan was impressed and remarked that Jharkhand was changing trends.

"Earlier, Delhi used to set the agenda, and every other state follow. Now, Jharkhand is taking a lead in everything for others to follow," he said.

Among the other guests on the dais were Union minister Jayant Sinha, filmmaker Subhash Ghai, VLCC chairman and founder Vandana Luthra, joint MD of Apollo Hospitals Sangita Reddy, director (Asia) ITE Education Services Lim Boon Tiong, executive advisor and board member of Maruti Suzuki M.M.Singh, chairman emeritus and principal advisor of Carlton Radisson Hotel, South Asia, K.B Kachru and senior bureaucrats.