Jharkhand marked 25 years of statehood on November 15, 2025, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda. Chief Minister Hemant Soren highlighted the state's legacy of resource extraction and its shift toward empowerment and sustainable development. The occasion reaffirms a commitment to jal, jungle, jameen belonging to local communities.
November 15, 2025, signified a milestone for Jharkhand, celebrating 25 years since its formation and the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, known as Dharti Aaba or Father of the Earth. The state emerged from a movement asserting that jal, jungle, jameen—water, forests, and land—must remain with the communities that have stewarded them for generations, honoring Adivasi resilience and justice.
Jharkhand's resources, including coal, steel, and minerals, have fueled modern India's growth, with local workers contributing significantly. However, Hemant Soren, the state's Chief Minister, noted in his column that extraction often imposed costs on locals while benefits flowed elsewhere, shaping politics and policies.
Over the past decade, efforts have addressed these imbalances through advances in social protection, rural connectivity, women's collectives, forest-based livelihoods, education, and health services. Community institutions have been strengthened, and welfare access improved. The Jharkhand@25 campaign has reaffirmed the state's identity, celebrated its pioneers, and engaged citizens, particularly youth and women, who emphasize empowerment over mere extraction.
Education and skills now anchor development, with investments in schools, ITIs, polytechnics, and universities to build local capabilities for a technology-driven world. Women, via initiatives like Palash and Self-Help Group federations, drive rural transformation in food processing, non-timber forest products, superfoods, and agro-businesses, boosting incomes and resilience.
The vision promotes ecology as an economic asset, seeking investments that create skilled jobs, conserve biodiversity, and respect land rights without compromising people or nature. Sports, arts, and tourism enhance cultural confidence, while manufacturing evolves toward cleaner, value-added production with community involvement.
Social inclusion remains central, ensuring dignity for marginalized groups. Looking ahead, Jharkhand aims to be educated, equitable, and environmentally secure, offering India a model rooted in identity, inclusion, and balance.