Jharkhand's Marang Gomke scholarship earns praises from UK govt

Ranchi: In the last leg of his UK visit, chief minister Hemant Soren attended an official reception hosted by Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, in London and interacted with representatives, policymakers, and experts from various nations.“The central theme of the discussion was highlighting Jharkhand's contribution to India's overall development,” the IPRD informed in a statement on Friday.Speaking on the occasion, Soren elaborated on Jharkhand's economic progress, industrial potential, natural resources, and human capital. He said, “Jharkhand plays a vital role in the nation's growth through its mineral wealth, youth power, and cultural heritage.”Discussions were also held on the opportunities for heritage conservation and cultural partnerships with the UK. “Positive deliberations also took place regarding potential collaboration in higher education, skill development, sports, and the critical minerals sector," IPRD said, adding that the dialogue aligns with the broader framework of the UK-India strategic partnership and bilateral cooperation between the two nations.Earlier in the day, Soren also met with officials of Historic England, the UK’s public body for heritage protection, to explore collaboration on conservation, research, and global recognition of Jharkhand’s ancient megalithic and monolithic traditions.The engagement focused on sharing best practices in the preservation of prehistoric landscapes and learning from the UK’s globally recognised conservation models.The state delegation is expected to visit Stonehenge and Avebury on Saturday to understand the scientific conservation and interpretation of prehistoric monuments.Late on Friday, Soren also met Seema Malhotra, parliamentary under-secretary of State (Minister for Equalities and Indo-Pacific) of the UK govt and discussed on various subjects.“The UK govt appreciated Jharkhand’s Marang Gomke Jaipal Munda Overseas Scholarship and the Chevening–Marang Gomke Overseas Scholarship, recognising them as a living example of the India–UK partnership," said IPRD. Over 100 students from Jharkhand have benefited from these scholarships in the last four years.“Both sides also discussed the creation of a Jharkhand–UK Working Track on Responsible Critical Minerals, linking standards, research and development, innovation ecosystems, and resilient supply-chain partnerships,” the IPRD said.