Patna, January 17 (ABN): Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in the Jan Samvad program held at Gandhi Maidan in Motihari, East Champaran district, under the Samriddhi Yatra. Addressing the Jan Samvad program, the Chief Minister said that you all know that the NDA government was formed for the first time in Bihar on November 24, 2005, since then the rule of law has been established in the state and we are continuously working on development projects. What was the condition of Bihar before 2005? The situation was very bad, people did not come out of their homes after evening. There was a lot of conflict in the society, there was a conflict between Hindus and Muslims every day. The education system was in a very bad state, very few children used to study. There was no complete arrangement for treatment. The roads were very less and the condition of the roads that existed was bad. Power supply was very less in some places. We have been working on development projects in Bihar since the beginning. Now there is no atmosphere of fear and terror of any kind. There is an atmosphere of love, brotherhood, and peace in the entire state. To end the Hindu-Muslim conflict, the fencing of graveyards was started in 2006. A large number of graveyards have been fenced. Now there is no dispute or trouble. After 2016, the fencing of more than 60-year-old Hindu temples has been done, due to which incidents like theft, etc. do not happen.

The Chief Minister said that first, special attention was given to the fields of education and health. We opened a large number of new schools and reinstated contract teachers. A scheme of uniforms and cycles was run for boys and girls studying in government schools. From 2023, 2 lakh 58 thousand government teachers have been reinstated by the Bihar Public Service Commission. From 2006, 3 lakh 68 thousand contract teachers have been reinstated, out of which 28 thousand 976 have become government teachers through the Bihar Public Service Commission. Then the government decided that contract teachers do not need to take the BPSC exam, they will be made government teachers by taking a simple exam. It was decided to give them 5 opportunities for this. So far, 4 exams have been conducted, in which 2 lakh 66 thousand contract teachers have passed. Now only 73 thousand are left, who will be given one more opportunity. The total number of government teachers has now reached 5 lakh 24 thousand.

The Chief Minister said that there has been a lot of improvement in health services. Earlier, the health system was very bad, only 39 patients used to come for treatment at primary health centers every month, i.e., 1 or 2 patients used to come daily. Since 2006, arrangements have been made for free medicines and treatment in hospitals. Now, on average, 11 thousand 600 patients come to the primary health center every month. Earlier, there were only 6 medical colleges in Bihar, their number has now increased to 12, and new medical colleges are being constructed in the remaining 27 districts, which will be completed soon. Patna Medical College and Hospital are being made 5 thousand 400 beds and other 5 old medical colleges are being made 2.5 thousand beds, as well as AIIMS is being built with 3 thousand beds.

The Chief Minister said that a large number of roads and bridges have been constructed in the state. The goal of reaching Patna within 6 hours from the farthest areas of the state was achieved in 2016. Now, a large number of roads, bridges, rail overbridges, bypasses, and elevated roads have been constructed in the state, due to which it has become possible to reach Patna within about 5 hours from the farthest areas. Since 2008, work has been done by making an Agriculture Road Map, due to which there has been very good progress in the field of agriculture. From 2008 to 2012, the first, from 2012 to 2017, the second, and from 2017 to 2023, the third Agriculture Road Map was implemented, due to which there has been a significant increase in the production of grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, meat, and fish. There has been a two-and-a-half-fold increase in fish production, due to which Bihar has become self-sufficient in fish production. There has also been an increase in the income of farmers.

In 2015, under the Seven Resolves, (1) Economic Solution - Youth Power (2) Secure Employment Women Empowerment (3) Electricity in every house, (4) Tap water in every house, (5) Toilet in every house (6) Connecting villages with pucca roads and (7) Increasing opportunities, work has been done. In 2018, electricity has been reached to every house by the government. The government has been providing electricity at a very low rate since the beginning. Now, almost all domestic consumers are being given free electricity. Solar panels will be installed on the roofs of the houses of all willing people by the government. Since 2020, under the Seven Resolves-2, (1) Youth Power - Bihar's Development, (2) Empowered Women - Capable Women, (3) Water for irrigation to every field, (4) Clean Village - Prosperous Village (solar street lights), (5) Clean City Developed City, (6) Easy Contact, (7) Medical facility for all (Telemedicine and Child Heart Scheme) a lot of work has been done on all these. Whatever was left under Seven Resolves-2 will be completed soon.

The Chief Minister said that under Seven Resolves-2, it was decided to provide 10 lakh jobs and 10 lakh employment opportunities to the youth. So far, 10 lakh youth have been given government jobs and 40 lakh have been given employment. A total of 50 lakh youth have been provided with jobs and employment. The goal is to provide employment and jobs to 1 crore youth in the next five years. The government has supported the development of all sections of society since its inception. Work has been done for everyone, whether Hindu, Muslim, upper caste, backward, extremely backward, Dalit, or Mahadalit. We have also done a lot of work for the Muslim community. Madrasas have been given government recognition, and their teachers are being given salaries equal to other government teachers.

The Chief Minister said that the pension amount for all senior citizens, the disabled, and widows has been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1100, benefiting 1 crore 14 lakh people. A caste-based census was conducted in 2023, in which information was also collected about the economic condition of the people. It revealed 94 lakh poor families, including upper castes, backward, extremely backward, Dalits, Mahadalits, and Muslim communities. A self-employment assistance of Rs 2 lakh was started for these families, and this assistance was to be given to all in five years. Now, we have decided to give money to all these 94 lakh poor families by connecting them to self-employment schemes on a priority basis. If needed, more than Rs 2 lakh will also be provided.

The Chief Minister said that in December 2024 and January-February 2025, during the Pragati Yatra, we visited all the districts to review the development works, and 430 new schemes have been approved to remove the shortcomings. Work has started on these schemes in all districts. All these projects will be completed soon. Bihar is getting full cooperation from the central government. In the budget of July 2024, it was announced to give a large amount of money to Bihar in the form of special financial assistance for roads, industry, health, tourism, and flood control. In the budget of February 2025, announcements have been made for the establishment of a food park, airport, and financial assistance for the western Kosi canal, etc.

The Chief Minister said that the government has been working in every field, whether it is education, health, roads, or electricity, for the first term 2005-2010, the second term 2010-2015, the third term 2015-2020, and the fourth term 2020-2025. Many steps have been taken to empower women. The pace of development will be further accelerated. The central government is also providing full cooperation. Seven Resolves-3 has been launched for the next five years. Under 'Double Employment, Double Income', the state's per capita income will be doubled. For this, the Chief Minister has given Rs 10,000 to every woman under the Women Employment Scheme, and those whose employment will improve will be given assistance up to Rs 2 lakh. In the next five years, one crore youth will be provided with employment and employment opportunities. A new Youth Employment and Skill Development Department has been set up for this purpose.

The Chief Minister said that under the 'Prosperous Industry, Empowered Bihar' initiative, full emphasis will be laid on setting up industries in the next five years. Industrial zones will be set up in all districts. Free land and grants are being provided for setting up new industries. Old, closed sugar mills will be restarted. A lot of work has been done for agricultural development under the state's prosperity program. To further accelerate this work, the establishment of the Bihar Marketing Promotion Corporation has been done. The production of makhan will be further promoted. Special attention will be given to dairy and fish farming.

The Chief Minister said that