During the review meeting, CM Nitish Kumar made several important announcements.
CM Nitish Kumar held a review meeting of the ongoing development schemes in Jamui district under the fourth phase of Pragati Yatra at the conference hall.
In the meeting, District Collector Abhilasha Sharma gave a detailed presentation on various development projects being carried out in the district. He informed about the updated status of many schemes including Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, Mukhyamantri Nischay Self Help Allowance Scheme, Kushal Yuva Karyakram, Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal, Har Ghar Tak Pakki Gali-Nali, Mukhyamantri Gramin Solar Street Light Scheme, Irrigation System, Agriculture Feeder Construction, Mukhyamantri Krishi Vidyut Konnection Yojana, Udyami Yojana, Women’s Participation in Higher Education, Telemedicine Services, Door-Step Delivery of Veterinary Services and Panchayat Government Building Construction.
Apart from this, the Chief Minister was also apprised of the status of high schools in every panchayat, formation of sports clubs to promote sports, sports grounds in every panchayat, Mukhyamantri Gram Sampark Yojana, Gramin Setu Yojana, expansion of self-help groups in urban and rural areas, improvement in admission-rejection process, wells, ponds and ponds renovated under Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan. The people’s representatives present in the meeting also shared the problems of their areas.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that he welcomes and congratulates the public representatives and officials. He appreciated the information presented by the District Collector and asked the officials to take note of the problems raised by the public representatives. He directed the officials to take necessary steps in this regard.
The Chief Minister informed that the announcements made in the districts visited under the Pragati Yatra are being approved by the Cabinet. He informed that 188 schemes worth Rs 20,000 crore were announced during the yatra in North Bihar, out of which 121 schemes have been approved by the Council of Ministers and 67 schemes have been approved at the departmental level.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the development of Bihar is being given top priority. He appealed to the people to remember the development work done in the state after 2005 and said that he has always been visiting every district of Bihar. He directed the officials to effectively implement the development works in all the areas so that all sections can get its benefit.
CM Nitish Kumar said that from November 24, 2005, he started working for the development of Bihar and since then has been continuously striving to take the state forward. He recalled that he was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and it was on his initiative that he got the opportunity to become CM Nitish Kumar of Bihar. The Chief Minister said he had worked with the BJP and other allies for the development of Bihar and the country.
Referring to the situation before 2005, he said that at that time people were afraid to leave their homes as soon as it was evening, incidents of communal violence were common, treatment in hospitals was poor, roads were dilapidated and the state of education was pathetic. There were no medicines available either. But when the public gave him an opportunity to work, the picture of Bihar changed. Now there is an atmosphere of fearlessness, peace and harmony in the state. Earlier, the power situation was also very bad, especially in rural areas where there was no electricity, while in urban areas there was only eight hours of supply.
The Chief Minister informed that the work of cordoning of graveyards was started since 2006 and till date more than 8,000 graveyards have been cordoned off. Another 1,273 graveyards have been identified, of which 746 have been cordoned off and work on the remaining is in progress. Similarly, initiatives were taken to construct boundary walls of 60-year-old temples to prevent incidents of idol theft from temples. Many development works are being carried out with the help of the central government.
The Chief Minister said that the dress scheme for children studying in government schools was launched in 2006, while the cycle scheme for girls was launched in 2009. It was also introduced for boys in 2010. This not only increased the number of girls going to school, but they also started cooperating with their families in other works.
He said that work has been done on a large scale in education, health, construction of roads and bridges in Bihar, from where it used to take six hours to reach Patna from any corner earlier, now this time has been reduced to five hours. A large number of teachers have been rehabilitated and school buildings constructed. The number of government teachers has also been increased and employed teachers are being provided government recognition through examination. Madrasas have also been given government recognition and teachers there are getting government salaries.
Referring to the improvement in health services, the Chief Minister said that before 2005, only 39 patients used to come to the primary health centres in a month, but after the introduction of free medicine and treatment facilities in government hospitals, this number has increased to more than 11,000. The number of medical colleges has also been increased from six to 12. The Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) is being built with a capacity of 5,400 beds, while the other five old medical colleges are being expanded to have a capacity of 2,500 beds. IGIMS, Patna is also being built with a capacity of 3,000 beds.
He said that since 2015, under the Saat Nischay Yojana, facilities like tap water, toilet construction, pucca roads and electricity connection have been provided to every household. These facilities are also being provided in new habitations. To prevent diseases caused by open defecation, toilets were built in homes and community toilets were arranged for those who did not have space. Schemes like solar street lights, telemedicine, Bal Hriday Yojana and water supply for irrigation are being implemented rapidly under Saat Nischay Yojana-II since 2020.
Referring to the work done towards empowerment of women, the Chief Minister said that 50% reservation was given to women in Panchayati Raj Institutions since 2006 and in Municipal Bodies since 2007. Four elections have been completed so far and a large number of women have been elected. The number of self-help groups has also been increased, which is now 10.61 lakh and 1.35 crore women are associated with them. This initiative was also adopted by the central government and named it ‘Aajeevika’.
The Chief Minister said that in 2013, 35% reservation was given to women in police recruitment, making the number of women in the Bihar police force the highest in the country. Women have also been given 35% reservation in all government jobs since 2016.
He informed that the target of providing 10 lakh government jobs in 2020 has been increased to 12 lakh. So far, more than 9 lakh people have got government jobs, while 24 lakh people have got employment under the target of providing employment to 10 lakh people. The target is to provide 12 lakh government jobs and 34 lakh jobs by 2025.
Referring to the caste-based enumeration, the Chief Minister said the survey was conducted in consultation with all parties, in which 94 lakh poor families have been identified. These include people from every caste and these families are being given financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh per family for livelihood.