Nitish’s dil ki baat is worth Rs 2.70 lakh crore

Bihar chief minister’s Rs 2.70 lakh crore plan will dwarf the PM’s Rs 1.25 crore package

GN Bureau | August 28, 2015


#bihar   #nitish kumar   #narendra modi   #prime minister   #chief minister  

Battle for Bihar has become a battle of numbers. In his bid to upstage prime minister Narendra Modi's Rs 1.25 lakh crore special package for Bihar, state chief minister Nitish Kumar today unveiled his package which doubles Modi's offer and also aims to capture Modi's audience.

The development plan of Rs 2.70 lakh crore would include free electricity and drinking water connection to every household.

Taking a shot at the PM's special package, Kumar told a press conference in Patna, "unlike the much hyped package which is nothing but repackaging of old schemes, my (Rs 2.70 lakh crore) vision comprises programmes which are doable and I have worked out mobilisation of resources for it."

"Its my 'dil ki baat' and not 'maan ki baat'," Kumar said.

The 7-point development plan was in addition to the ongoing schemes, Kumar said in Patna. He also answered in negative on the question whether this of his party manifesto, he said, "it's my commitment towards the people and I know they have faith in me that I do what I say."

The has special focus on youths, women, unemployed, young enterpreuners and on infrastructure needs like drinking water, electricity and toilet. Like Modi he is targeting the youth as it has five new programmes for youths. This segment forms the bulk of the state's population.

The plans for youths would cost about Rs 49,800 crore in next five years and the youth in the age group of 20-25 would get Rs 1,000 monthly allowance twice for a period of nine months each to meet expenses during search for jobs.

Every youth who has passed class XII would get a student credit card with the help of which a loan of Rs 4 lakh from any bank could be availed. The state government would provide 3 percent interest subvention on the loan taken from this credit card.

The state government would establish a Rs 500 crore Venture capital fund from which young enterpreuners would get start-up capital to set up manufacturing units.

The CM promised to provide free wifi facility in all colleges and universities in the state.

He further said registration and modern employment consultancy centres would be opened in all 38 districts to provide basic computer education, language training and skill development to 1.5 crore youths in the state.

To give pace to women empowerment, Kumar said 35 percent seats would be reserved for women in all state jobs.

Presently, 35 percent reservation is given to women in recruitment in police from constable upto Inspector level and this would be extended in all other state jobs, he added.

With electricity emerging as a major election issue in Bihar, Kumar said all left out villages and habitations would be connected with electricity in next two years and after that state government on its own expenses would connect every house with the electricity.

"Through increased availability of electricity the dream to illuminate every house in the state with 24 hour electricity would be realised," Kumar said.

The future power projects would cost Rs 55,600 crore in five years which would be arranged.

Strangely, the chief minister was vague on the questions of raising revenue for all these schemes.

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