The NDA on Friday released its manifesto for the Bihar Assembly poll, promising, among other things, jobs to one crore youth, making one crore “Lakhpati Didis”, Metro train services in four more cities and seven international airports in the state.
Seven expressways, 10 industrial parks, free quality education from KG to PG for the poor and Rs 2,000 aid per month for SC students pursuing higher education are some of the other features of the manifesto.
The manifesto was released at a press conference attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, BJP president JP Nadda, and Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan, among others.
“We are talking about making Bihar relevant to the world in the 21st century,” said Deputy CM Choudhary.
While the Mahagathbandhan had promised government jobs to one member of each family in its manifesto, the NDA has stated that it will provide jobs to one crore youth in the next five years in the government and private sectors.
The NDA has promised to make Bihar a textile hub and its younger generation skilled enough to be accepted across the world.
The manifesto underlines the importance of the “benefit of a double engine government”. The Deputy CM said several promises such as better train and road connectivity, Metro in four more cities and making Bihar a textile hub would not be possible without the help of the Centre.
“CM Nitish Kumar has appreciated the assistance given to the state by the Centre and PM Modi has also said that the double engine government benefited Bihar in the past and the benefits would continue if the NDA comes to power after the Assembly poll,” Choudhary said.
The NDA has promised to make education free from KG to PG. While the Mahagathbandhan had promised to make Jeevila workers government employees, the NDA has promised Rs 2 lakh help to them, besides creating Lakhpati Didis. A new township named Sitapuram in Sitamarhi, believed to be the birthplace of Sita, will be set up, while a mega skill development centre will be opened in every district to train the youth. It has also promised to create a sports city, besides opening new industries in every district, 10 new industrial parks, and 100 medium scale and 50,000 small scale industries.
The NDA has stated that it will give Rs 3,000 as top-up to farmers, who already receive Rs 6,000 a year from the Centre. For the fishing community, it has promised to provide Rs 4,500 as top-up to an equal amount it receives from the Centre.
The NDA has promised a Rs 2,000 stipend per month to SC and ST students in higher education. For the uplift of Extremely Backward Classes, it has promised that it will provide a Rs 10 lakh financial assistance to various professional groups belonging to the category.
Besides midday meals, the government will provide nutritious breakfast to students in government schools, Rs 5,000 crore for the upgrade of school buildings, a medical college in all districts and 50 lakh new houses for below poverty line sections.
Meanwhile, the RJD has slammed the manifesto. “Instead of releasing a manifesto, the NDA should have issued a report card. Nitishji has been in power for 20 years and Modiji for 11 years. Despite having a double engine government for 11 years, Bihar lags in all fields as per Niti Aayog reports,” said RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan.