Joba demands Sarna code, special status for J’khand in maiden Lok Sabha speech

Jamshedpur: Newly elected JMM MP from Singhbhum, Joba Majhi, demanded the Union govt to give the special category status to Jharkhand. Speaking on the motion of thanks on the President’s address, she said her underdeveloped state was also home to a high number of tribals.
“The Centre should consider granting special status to Jharkhand to usher in rapid development in the state,” Joba said, speaking in the Lower House on Monday.
The parliamentarian also batted for safeguarding the unique religious identity of tribals through the implementation of the Sarna Religion Code (SRC). “Speaker Sir, through you I demand the govt to give SRC to the tribals,” she said in Hindi.
The JMM-led coalition govt in the state had passed a resolution in favour of the code two years ago and sent it to the Centre. The SRC was also the INDIA bloc’s poll plank in the last assembly polls and would be the key campaign issue against BJP ahead of the assembly election scheduled later this year.
"The President mentioned that the NDA govt enjoys the majority in the House. But the Lok Sabha election proves that the incumbent govt does not enjoy the confidence of the majority. The govt should amend its behaviour and formulate policies in regard to the larger good of the country,” Joba said.
She also claimed that the NEET scam has further eroded the trust of the educated youths in the Union govt.
The JMM MP further said despite the Centre's claim that the Indian economy became the fifth largest in the world in 2023 and would be the third largest in coming years, the level of joblessness and the gap between the rich and the poor are high. “The state of poverty, the level of unemployment and economic disparity are contradicting the figures of the govt. A lot needs to be done for balanced development and judicious distribution of the assets and earnings for achieving inclusive growth and prosperity in the country,” Joba said.
She further alleged that the Centre built over four crore houses under the PM Awas Yojna in the past 10 years, but Jharkhand has not received the project amount for the past three years. “The state govt launched the Abua Awas scheme for the poor and needy with its limited resources,” Joba said.