CM Nitish Kumar Reviews Development Progress in Sitamarhi and Shivhar, Announces Major Initiatives

During the Pragati Yatra, Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar held a joint review meeting today in the Paricharcha Bhawan located in Sitamarhi Collectorate regarding the development schemes going on in Sitamarhi and Shivhar districts.

In the joint review meeting, District Magistrate of Sitamarhi District, Shri Richie Pandey gave detailed information through presentation of the development works of Sitamarhi and Shivhar districts. During this, detailed information was given to the Chief Minister regarding Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, Chief Minister Nishchay Self Help Allowance Scheme, Kushal Yuva Program, tap water in every house and their maintenance, paved lanes and drains to every house, Chief Minister Rural Solar Street Light Scheme, irrigation water to every farm, construction of agricultural feeder, Chief Minister Agricultural Electricity Connection Scheme, Chief Minister Udyami Yojana, encouragement to women for higher education, medical consultation through tele medicine in health sub-center, door step delivery of veterinary services and updated status of construction of Panchayat Government Building. Apart from this, the District Magistrate gave detailed information to the Chief Minister regarding 10+2 schools in every Panchayat, formation of sports club to promote sports in Gram Panchayat, Nagar Panchayat, playground in every Panchayat, Chief Minister Gram Sampark Yojana (remaining), Chief Minister Gramin Setu Yojana, formation of self-help groups in urban and rural areas, transparency in revenue administration, updated status of public wells, ponds and ponds renovated under Dakhal Kharij / Parimarjan / Parimarjan Plus and Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali. In the review meeting, the public representatives also put forth the problems of their respective areas before the Chief Minister.

Addressing the review meeting, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to resolve the problems raised by the public representatives in the meeting as soon as possible. From November 24, 2005, the people of Bihar gave us an opportunity to work. Since then, we have been continuously working for the development of Bihar. Development work is being done continuously for all areas and all sections. Before 2005, the condition of Bihar was very bad. People were afraid to step out of their homes after evening. There was no arrangement for treatment in hospitals, roads were dilapidated. The condition of education was not good. Often there were reports of disputes between Hindus and Muslims. The Chief Minister said that when the people of Bihar gave us a chance to work, the situation of Bihar has changed. Development work is being done in every field. There has been no discrimination against anyone. Together we are constantly taking Bihar forward. We had gone from here to there by mistake twice. Now we will always be together and will develop the country along with Bihar.

The Chief Minister said that since the year 2006, we started fencing the graveyards. Till now more than 8 thousand graveyards have been fenced. 1247 more graveyards are being fenced, in which 746 graveyards have been fenced. The work of fencing the remaining graveyards will also be completed soon. We saw that incidents of idol theft are taking place from temples. In view of this, it was decided to build boundary walls of temples so that there are no incidents of theft in temples.

The Chief Minister said that we are carrying out development work in the entire Bihar. No area of Bihar is untouched by development. We have done work on a large scale for education, health, roads, bridges, due to which earlier people from any corner of Bihar used to reach Patna in 6 hours, now it has been reduced to 5 hours. Every kind of work is being done for this. Earlier, Sitamarhi used to be cut off from the state for 4 months during the rainy season, it used to take a lot of time to reach Patna from Sitamarhi and there was a lot of trouble, but now people are easily reaching Patna from Sitamarhi.

The Chief Minister said that since the year 2006, a dress scheme was started for children studying in government schools. Cycle scheme for girls from the year 2009, cycle scheme for boys from the year 2010, recruitment of employed teachers on a large scale, efforts have been made to improve the field of education by constructing school buildings. A large number of government teachers are being appointed. Government recognition is being given to employed teachers through examination. Earlier, very few girls used to go to study. When girls were given bicycles, they started going to school on time and also take their parents to the market in the evening. It feels very good to see this scene.

The Chief Minister said that earlier only 39 patients used to go to the Primary Health Center for treatment in a month. Now on an average more than 11 thousand patients are coming for treatment in 1 month. Earlier there were only 6 government medical colleges in Bihar. Now their number has increased to 11. Basic facilities like tap water in every house, construction of paved streets and drains in every house, toilet in every house, electricity connection to every house have been made available to the people.

The Chief Minister said that 50 percent reservation was given to women in Panchayati Raj institutions and municipal bodies, under which 4 elections have been held so far. A large number of women have been elected. We have worked in every way for the upliftment of women. In the year 2013, 35 percent reservation was given to women in police recruitment, as a result of which the participation of women in Bihar Police Force has increased significantly. There are 30 thousand women police in Bihar. From the year 2016, we have given 35 percent reservation to women in all government jobs. Earlier, the number of self-help groups in Bihar was very low. We started the work of increasing the number of self-help groups by taking a loan from the World Bank in the year 2006. Now the number of self-help groups in Bihar has increased to 10 lakh 61 thousand, with 1 crore 31 lakh Jeevika Didi associated with them. We have named the women associated with the self-help group as Jeevika Didi, inspired by which the central government of that time also adopted it and named it Ajeevika. Our work has an impact on the whole country. In Bihar, now the formation of self-help groups has been started in urban areas as well, in which 26 thousand Jeevika didis are associated so far.

The Chief Minister said that we had set a target of giving government jobs to 10 lakh people, which has been increased to 12 lakh. So far 9 lakh people have been given government jobs. Apart from this, a target of giving employment to 10 lakh people was set. So far 24 lakh people have been provided employment. In the year 2025, 12 lakh people will be given government jobs and 34 lakh people will be provided employment. We have worked for the upliftment of all sections. Madrasas have been given government recognition. We have conducted caste-based census in Bihar in which 94 lakh poor families have been identified, who belong to every caste. Such poor families are being given financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh per family so that they can earn their livelihood.

The Chief Minister said that today we visited the site and reviewed various development works in Shivhar and Sitamarhi districts. We took information about the schemes being run by the Central and State Government. We have heard the problems of the people. In this meeting also, the public representatives have told their problems, they have also been noted by the officials. All the problems will be resolved with full promptness. Whatever development work is left will be completed at a fast pace. We serve the people. We are always engaged in the development work of the state. We do not discriminate against anyone. Voting is the right of the people, whoever wants to vote, vote, we will keep working for everyone. We will all work together for the development of Bihar.

Important announcements of the Chief Minister for Sitamarhi district in the review meeting

You know that we have done a lot of development work in Sitamarhi, yet whatever is left or lacking will be completed. Today I got a chance to visit the sugar mill in Riga. I was very happy to see that this closed sugar mill is now starting. I have already directed that the state government will pay the previous dues of sugarcane farmers and for this I have also approved Rs 52 crore. For the convenience of sugarcane farmers, I have instructed to increase the price of sugarcane by Rs 20 per quintal.

A large area of Sitamarhi district was affected due to the breaking of the embankment of Bagmati river in the last flood, so today while coming from Shivhar to Riga, I have also inspected this dam by helicopter. Its broken part will be repaired immediately. Also, in view of the old demand of the people, I have also directed that both the embankments of Bagmati river should be strengthened and a road should be built on it.

A lot of work is being done for the development of Punauradham. Apart from this, land will also be made available for Panthapakar (Doli Sthan) and it will be developed. According to the belief, the palanquin of Mother Sita was kept in Panthapakar while going to Ayodhya. Employment opportunities will increase due to tourism development.

I have been informed that there are problems in electricity supply in 4 blocks of Sitamarhi district, Majorganj, Suppi, Bairgania and Riga. To solve this, a new electricity grid station will be constructed in Majorganj block.

500 acres of land will be identified for setting up industries in Sitamarhi, on which industries will be set up, which will provide employment to the people here.