Jharkhand’s BJP Chief Minister Raghubar Das wants to make his state the preferred destination for investors from the country and abroad. After his investment promotion tours in Mumbai and Bengaluru, Mr Das was in Hyderabad this week. He invited investors to the Jharkhand Global Investors Summit 2017 to in Ranchi on February 15-16 next year. Taking time off his interactions with potential investors, Mr Das explained his “mission and vision” to C.R. Gowri Shanker.
How is your mission to Hyderabad to attract investors progressing?
Very happy and very encouraging. There is tremendous response from investors in all sectors. You saw how I approved proposals to establish medical, dental, nursing and para medical colleges. I take quick decisions. That’s the hall mark of our administration.
Any MoUs firmed up? What’s the total amount of investments promised?
On the cards is an agreement with Oracle Academy for imparting IT skill training to the students of engineering colleges, polytechnics and degree-level institutions in Jharkhand. There is an MoU with Shree Cements. Care Hospital, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, KIMS, Indo American, Apollo and other hospitals have evinced interest. The Jharkhand government has signed an MoU with CISCO in Bengaluru and Narayana Health to revamp government hospitals, and with some others to set up a railway coach factory and a milk processing plant. From five acres to 50 acres or more, we give land at government rate and provide facilities under a single window system in 15 days. My goal is not figures, but maximum investments. No amount, no count.
Is infrastructure in place for such a large number of investors? What about law and order; the Maoist problem?
You have to see the positive attitude in people; a stable government, 24x7 power supply, plenty of water. Law and order is under control, especially Maoist activities and goondaism. In the next six months, these will be totally wiped out.
What did investors seek?
I was a mazdoor (worker) with Tatas before becoming CM. Ek mazdoor rajya ka mukhya mantri hai, woh loktantra ki khubi hai (A worker has become the CM, it’s the greatness of democracy). I know the mindset of industrialists. They want peaceful industrial climate, infrastructure, human resources, ease of doing business, transparency, quick permissions, no corruption, affordable land, power, water etc and of course profit. We give them that.
What are your state’s strengths?
We have 40 per cent of India's mineral wealth, we rank first in coal, second in iron ore, apatite rock phosphate, cobalt, silver ore, we are a leading producer of steel, mica and copper. We are number one in labour reforms and inspection-related compliances in India, 3rd in ‘ease of doing business’ in India as per World Bank report, 5th in FDI in India, first state to have State Wide Area Network (SWAN) under National e-Governance plan. Man days lost due to industrial strife is lowest in India. Jharkhand is among India's most important human resource hubs.
Is it true Maoists collect taxes from industrialists, business houses?
No. It is a thing of the past. Crime has come down drastically in the last 15 months. We will bring it to zero. Visit our state bhaiyya, you will see the change.
