Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on January 13, 2018, said that open defecation and impure drinking water account for about 90% diseases affecting the people and so he resolved to provide pure drinking water to every houdehold across the state and make every village Open Defecation Free (ODF).
Addressing a public meeting at village Dawa under Jagdishpur block in Bhojpur district during his on going ‘ Vikas Samiksha Yatra’ in the state, Nitish said that lavatory was being constructed at every house. The CM said that electricity will reach every house in Bihar by December 2018 and pure tap water, and construction of drain and lavatory will be ensured to every village and tola. Nitish said that the Bhojpur district administration has assured to complete electrification of each tola in January 2018 itself.
Nitish said that Babu VeerKuer Singh, hero of first war of Independence in 1857, was not accorded honour he deserved hence the government will celebrate his Victory Day for three days from April 23 to April 25, 2018.
Bhojpur district administration had made very tight security arrangements for Nitish’s visit to village Dawa in view of stone pelting on his carcade at village Nandan under Dumraon block in Buxar district on January 12, 2018.
The CPI(ML) activists termed the Vikas Samiksha Yatra of the CM as misuse of public money. The security forces removed them from the meeting venue. Nitish inaugurated 23 schemes worth Rs 26.43 crore on the occasion besides laying foundation of 234 schemes worth Rs 195 crore.
The Bhojpur district administration allowed only activists of the Janada Dal (U) and Jivika Didis inside the meeting place. The officials of Jivikas had allegedly brought over women from different parts of Bhojpur district at the meeting place presenting them as Jivika Didis. They included some minor girls.
The CM said that his government works for the woman empowerment and made provision for 50% reservation for them in Panchayati Raj institutions and municipal bodies. Nitish said women are getting 35% reservation in every government job in Bihar since February 2016 and said that at least 8 lakh SHGs have been formed against the target of 10 lakh.
Nitish said that his government also brought student credit card for the students to enable them continue their education after class XII. He, however, criticised the attitude of the banks in this regard and added that the state government has decided to set up its own Finance Corporation and will give loan up to Rs 4 lakh to the students. Nitish said that a medical college will soon be opened in Bhojpur district as soon as the land for it is identified.
Nitish Kumar said that the positive results of prohibition was increasingly getting visible now and added that a post of IG (Prohibition) had been created. he CM said a campaign against dowry and child marriage has been launched across the state. He said that a large number of women, who were married when minor, die every year during delivery. Nitish said Bihar is placed 22nd in the country in crime but it is a shame that Bihar tops on the front of dowry deaths and atrocities on women for dowry next to UP. The CM exhorted the people to come on the road on January 21, 2018, to form human chain against dowry and child marriage.