Ranchi Oct 25 PTI Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday said possessing a ration card will not be mandatory for availing widow pension in Jharkhand He said this while inaugurating schemes worth Rs 3458 crore and laying the foundation stone for several projects in Godda district There will be no need for a ration card for getting widow pension now Helpless widows will be provided pension by the government he said addressing a function at Rajabhitta stadium at Godda a statement issued by the state government said The chief minister inaugurated several schemes in the district and laid the foundation stones for projects to be built at a cost of Rs 2618 crore the statement said Soren also distributed appointment letters to eligible persons on compassionate grounds and distributed house keys and letters to the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Assets worth Rs 65 crore were distributed among beneficiaries of different projects A power sub-station was also inaugurated in Godda while the foundation stone for lift irrigation facilities was laid in the villages displaced for Sundar Dam Ten school buildings are also being built the chief minister said adding eight ambulances are being made available at the district level for health care He said the government is committed to the all-around development of people through various schemes including Chief Minister Employment Generation Scheme Phulo Jhano Yojana and Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Yojana The chief minister said that the government is celebrating this year as the year of appointment Manuals are being prepared by various departments so that vacant posts in all departments can be filled as soon as possible Soren said PTI NAM MM MM