CM Nitish Kumar Launches ₹64 Crore Development Drive in Begusarai
Begusarai: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday spearheaded a significant development push in Begusarai district, inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for 107 projects valued at a total of Rs 64.19 crore. During his visit, the Chief Minister also inspected a special development camp in Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe hamlets and participated in a women's dialogue program, underscoring his administration's focus on inclusive growth and women empowerment.
The slew of developmental initiatives includes the inauguration of 102 schemes worth Rs 12.37 crore and the foundation stone laying for five projects with an outlay of Rs 51.82 crore.
In Teghra block's Pidhhauli village panchayat, Chief Minister Kumar reviewed a special development camp organised under the Dr. Ambedkar Samagra Seva Abhiyan. He interacted with beneficiaries and distributed certificates and approval letters for 22 different government schemes. These included the e-Shram card, Ayushman Bharat card, Aadhaar card, Bas Bhumi-Vasgeet Parcha (homestead land slips), labour cards, and enrollments in the Kushal Yuva Program and Skill Development Program.
The Chief Minister also took the time to observe stalls set up by various government departments and the Jeevika Didis, the state's women's self-help group members. During this inspection, he presented symbolic cheques to beneficiaries of several welfare programs. These included the Bihar State Migrant Labourer Accident Grant Scheme, financial aid for marriage under the Bihar Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, the Bihar Shatabdi Unorganized Sector Workers and Craftsmen Social Security Scheme, and Ayushman cards. A significant symbolic cheque of Rs 58.32 crore was handed over for bank loans facilitating 1,946 Jeevika Self-Help Groups, benefiting 23,352 women members.
A key highlight of the visit was the 'Mahila Samvad' (Women's Dialogue) program held in Pidhhauli Gram Panchayat. Women associated with Jeevika Self-Help Groups shared their experiences, expressing gratitude towards the Chief Minister for his initiatives aimed at women's empowerment. They specifically lauded the positive impact of reservation for women in government jobs, stating that such measures have enabled them to advance significantly and become self-reliant.
Addressing the Jeevika Didis, Chief Minister Kumar reminisced about the origins of the self-help group movement in Bihar. "Initially, the number of Self-Help Groups in Bihar was quite low," he stated. "In 2006, we took a loan from the World Bank to begin increasing their numbers. We were the ones who named these Self-Help Groups 'Jeevika.' The women associated with them are known as Jeevika Didis in Bihar." He further added, "Inspired by our work, the then central government adopted this model and implemented it across the country, naming it 'Aajeevika.' Do not forget this."
The Chief Minister was accompanied by a host of dignitaries including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, and Revenue and Land Reforms Minister-cum-Begusarai District In-charge Minister Sanjay Sarawagi. Also present were MLA Raj Kumar Singh, former Minister Manju Verma, Principal Secretary to the CM Deepak Kumar, Secretary to the CM Kumar Ravi, Secretary of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department Devesh Sehra, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Begusarai Range) Ashish Bharti, Begusarai District Magistrate Tushar Singla, and Superintendent of Police Manish, along with other senior officials and prominent citizens.