Delhi, 18 July (H.S.): The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects valued over Rs 7,000 crore in Motihari, Bihar on Friday. He sought blessings at Baba Someshwarnath’s feet during the sacred month of Sawan, wishing happiness and prosperity for Bihar's residents. Reflecting on the historical significance of Champaran, he noted its role in the freedom movement and how it gave Mahatma Gandhi a new direction. The Prime Minister expressed optimism that this land will inspire a bright new future for Bihar.

PM Modi remarked on the rapid progress of the East, contrasting it with the Western nations' previous dominance. He envisioned an era where eastern states in India, including Bihar, will thrive, aiming for equal opportunities across regions. He expressed that Motihari should gain the same prominence as Mumbai, and other cities in Bihar should mirror successful urban areas across India.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the transformation of Bihar into a developed state is a priority and achievable due to the commitment of both the central and state governments. He highlighted past political discrimination, citing that during the previous 10 years, Bihar received only about ₹2 lakh crore, a stark contrast to the nearly ₹9 lakh crore provided under his administration since 2014, representing four times the previous amount. This funding, he asserted, is dedicated to public welfare and various development projects. He urged the younger generation to recognize the despair of Bihar two decades ago when previous governments hindered development.

Criticising the former leadership for corruption, he praised the resilience of Bihar’s people for liberating the state from past governance struggles, enabling direct benefits of welfare schemes to reach the needy. He noted the construction of over 4 crore homes under the PM Awas Yojana, with nearly 60 lakh houses in Bihar alone, emphasizing how this has changed the living standards of the poor. In Motihari, around 3 lakh families received pucca houses, and today 12,000 families were handed keys to new homes.

Focusing on the progress seen in women's empowerment, the Prime Minister acknowledged their critical role in understanding governmental efforts. He recalled the difficulties women faced in accessing banking services and highlighted the Jan Dhan accounts initiative that empowered approximately 3.5 crore women in Bihar. The government's strategy includes increasing pensions for marginalized populations, and considerable support for self-help groups, emphasizing financial empowerment through direct transfers into accounts.

PM Modi pointed out the growing number of 'Lakhpati Didis'—women who have achieved financial independence—stating that 20 lakh women in Bihar have reached this status and lauding the Jeevika Didi scheme that promotes self-sufficiency among women. He revealed a ₹400 crore Community Investment Fund to further boost women’s empowerment and independence. Reiterating the significance of Bihar’s progress for national prosperity, he stressed that the youth must be empowered to move forward.

Emphasizing job creation within the state, he praised the Bihar government's transparency in youth appointments and highlighted new plans to enhance employment opportunities. He announced a newly approved scheme to support first-time job seekers in the private sector, providing ₹15,000 for new appointments, projected to cost ₹1 lakh crore, commencing August 1.

The Prime Minister also sectioned self-employment efforts through initiatives like the Mudra Yojana, reporting significant loan disbursements to support young entrepreneurs in Bihar, especially in Champaran. He accused leaders from opposition parties of failing to deliver jobs while exploiting the land of citizens.

PM Modi implored the audience to appreciate the advancements made since the coalition's emergence, highlighting Bihar’s transformative journey and the unwavering dedication of its people towards a brighter future, starkly contrasting it with the state’s historical challenges.

The Governor of Bihar, Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Jitan Ram Manji Giriraj Singh ,Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Chirag Paswan, Ramnath Thakur, Nityanand Rai, Satish Chandra Dubey, Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary were present among other dignitaries at the event.

The Prime Minister emphasized decisive actions against Naxalism, benefiting Bihar's youth and leading to a decline in extremism in districts like Champaran, Aurangabad, Gaya, and Jamui. He noted that areas previously affected by Maoist violence are now fostering ambition among young people. Highlighting the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism, he recalled launching Operation Sindoor from Bihar.

The Prime Minister asserted that Bihar possesses both capability and resources, pointing to the rise in makhana prices due to market integration and the establishment of a Makhana Board. He showcased Bihar's agricultural richness with products like banana, litchi, and Zardalu mango, connecting farmers to global markets.

Under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, ₹3.5 lakh crore has been disbursed to farmers, benefiting over 5 lakh in Motihari alone. He stressed the government's action-oriented approach towards backward communities, highlighting that over 110 previously neglected districts are now designated as aspirational. The OBC community's demand for constitutional status was fulfilled, alongside the launch of the Janman Yojana with a ₹25,000 crore development allocation for marginalized tribal communities.

The new Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana aims to support farmers in 100 targeted districts, directly benefiting around 1.75 crore farmers. He inaugurated various railway and road projects, improving travel and connectivity in Bihar, while criticizing past governments for political exploitation. He called for collective efforts to accelerate Bihar’s progress and build a brighter future.

Prime Minister launched various development projects in Rail, Road, Rural Development, Fisheries, Electronics, and IT. Key initiatives include automatic signalling on the Samastipur-Bachhwara rail line and the doubling of the Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur lines. These enhancements, part of a Rs 580 crore project, aim to improve train operations and reduce delays.

Prime Minister inaugurated the 4-lane Parariya to Mohania section of NH-319, costing over Rs 820 crore, enhancing freight and passenger movement between Ara Town and NH-02. The Prime Minister also launched a 2-lane road from Sarwan to Chakai under NH-333C, crucial for goods and people’s movement, linking Bihar and Jharkhand.

Additionally, new Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facilities at Darbhanga and Patna were inaugurated to promote the IT/ITES/ESDM industries and support startups in boosting software exports and fostering innovation. In a significant move for Bihar’s fisheries sector, several projects under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) were initiated, including fish hatcheries and biofloc units, to enhance fish production and create employment. The Prime Minister also flagged off four new Amrit Bharat trains, improving regional connectivity.

Furthermore, Rs 400 crore was allocated to approximately 61,500 Self-Help Groups under DAY-NRLM, focusing on women’s empowerment. As part of the Griha Pravesh initiative, keys were given to 12,000 beneficiaries and Rs 160 crore was disbursed to 40,000 beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar