CM Nitish Kumar today visited various industrial units in Sikanderpur Industrial Area at Bihta in Patna. He first visited the RK Shirts unit, where he observed the processes of shirt manufacturing – such as cutting, stitching and packaging – and interacted with the women working there to understand their role.
After this, Chief Minister DV Ranjan Bag reached the cluster, where he was apprised of the entire process of making bags. He saw the ready bags and cheered the working personnel by appreciating them.
Later, the Chief Minister inspected the state-of-the-art Integrated Irradiation Centre. He learnt about cold storage, package house and irradiation process. This centre works to increase the shelf life of agricultural products while maintaining their quality and preparing them for export.
During the inspection, the Chief Minister said that there is a conducive atmosphere for promoting industrial development in the state and the government is constantly encouraging entrepreneurs. He said that under the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, the youth and women are getting self-employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister also informed that at present more than 180 local youth are working in the RK Shirts unit and this number may reach 1200 in the coming time. The DV Ranjan Bag Cluster is a women-led enterprise where more than 80% of women are employed. They have been trained through local self-help groups and NGOs.
Fruits like litchi and jardalu mangoes have already been exported to countries like UAE and Qatar at the Integrated Irradiation Centre. More than 100 youth have been trained and provided employment here, which is directly contributing to the agri-export chain.
These three units have so far provided direct employment to more than 350 people, including a large number of women and local youth. This initiative is empowering inclusive growth, women empowerment and economic self-reliance in the state.
Several senior officials of the state government, MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, representatives of RK Shirts, DV Ranjan Bag Cluster and Irradiation Centre were present during the inspection.