Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], October 15 : Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, claiming that the party had ignored the women of Jharkhand.
She further stated that during the BJP's tenure, there were numerous trafficking cases, and it is Chief Minister Hemant Soren who has been able to help those women.
"During the BJP government, trafficking of women was at its peak. Many placement agencies sprang up in rural areas like Gumla, Simdega, Khunti, and others. Middlemen from outside would come here and take them to other states like Delhi and Haryana under the pretext of jobs. They would be exploited in the name of employment," she told ANI.
"CM Soren not only brought those girls back but also initiated programs in our state to connect them to jobs. Moreover, they are also receiving loans so that they can stand on their own two feet," she added.
Maji further mentioned that the state government is improving the conditions of schools to provide quality education to women.
"There is an effort to enhance schools and colleges for the people; they are also being sent abroad to prestigious institutions. The Maiya Samman Yojana is part of such measures," she said.
Maji claimed that the Maiya Samman Yojana was introduced in response to the failures of the previous BJP governments in the state. "CM Hemant Soren brought the Maiya Samman Yojana because, during the BJP's tenure - from 2000 till now, when there have been BJP governments for 17-18 years, with multiple Chief Ministers from the BJP - they never thought about women."
Earlier, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that the state cabinet had decided to increase the amount given under the Maiya Samman Yojana from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 starting in December.
The MP also noted that the scheme aims to provide women with support so they do not fall victim to traffickers.
"Previously, for certain necessities, they would beg, and traffickers would trap them. Now, with this support, women can stay in the state, develop their skills, and connect to good jobs so that they can live with dignity," she said.