Promises on Paper?

As a raft of new schemes sweep across Jharkhand, the challenge for the Hemant Soren-led government is ensuring they translate into real-world benefits.

Jharkhand

More than a month after it returned to power in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s JMM-led INDIA bloc government has unveiled a number of ambitious schemes across sectors, particularly health, education and welfare. From its approach to healthcare infrastructure to large-scale initiatives such as the Maiyan Samman Yojana and the student bicycle scheme, there is much to commend. Yet, the state still faces systemic roadblocks that undermine the potential for equitable growth. In assessing these efforts, it is evident that while good intentions pervade, operational inefficiencies remain a significant barrier to success.

In a notable departure from past practice, Health Minister Irfan Ansari recently called for suggestions from the state’s 14 MPs and 81 MLAs on the health urgencies of their constituencies, with an eye on incorporating them into the 2025-26 budget. A key feature of this strategy is the ambitious goal of transforming five existing medical colleges and hospitals into super-specialty hubs by 2026.

While this reflects commendable foresight, the real challenge lies in execution. Resources must be poured into both the physical infrastructure and the training of medical staff to meet such lofty goals. The state’s track record on the latter has been inconsistent, with many rural areas experiencing a persistent shortage of health professionals. Furthermore, it will require sustained funding over the next few years, posing a financial strain that might divert resources away from immediate healthcare needs.

The public remains sceptical of whether these structural reforms will translate into meaningful on-the-ground changes. The minister’s effort to seek feedback is promising but will be unsuccessful unless it leads to prompt action to resolve the perennial issue of underfunded and understaffed healthcare centres.

Jharkhand’s approach to public recruitment has also been drawn into sharp relief in recent months. In a tragic turn, a dozen candidates died during a physical test for the recruitment of excise constables. The crisis highlights deeper systemic issues regarding the implementation of recruitment processes. Calls by opposition parties for immediate compensation and job guarantees for the victims’ families are yet to translate into the clear policy response that citizens expect.

One of the most eagerly anticipated programs is the bicycle distribution scheme for 5 lakh eighth-grade students. By offering bicycles, the government aims to mitigate transportation barriers and encourage attendance, especially among children from marginalized communities. This initiative reflects an understanding of the practical challenges students face in Jharkhand’s rural areas. The plan, though laudable in intent, is marred by delays, with bicycles not being distributed for the last three years and a problematic tender process only recently seeing action. Delays in tendering, inadequate infrastructure for delivery, and the government's reliance on centralizing funds via bank accounts pose questions about the feasibility of executing this program on schedule.

Equally notable is the Maiyan Samman Yojana, an important welfare program that is designed to provide financial assistance to women, primarily from rural areas. However, widespread complaints from beneficiaries regarding delayed payments and technical glitches in the online system underscore an ongoing frustration. Only 25 percent of eligible women in certain blocks have received their due, and with glitches in linking accounts to Aadhaar and inconsistent payout schedules, the program’s inefficacy is visible. The Soren administration's response, which includes a promise to expedite processing and establish grievance redressal centres, speaks to a level of seriousness. But such responses need to go beyond words, creating a robust mechanism that guarantees timely benefits.

The new schemes under the Hemant Soren government, while showing promise on paper, risk being undone by bureaucratic inertia, procedural delays and persistent governance gaps.

If the Soren government is to succeed, it must ensure that its grand plans are backed by timely and efficient implementation on the ground. Only then can Jharkhand move beyond what has been thus far - a history of broken promises.