NDA promises free education for poor, 1 crore jobs & major infrastructure boost

The NDA on Friday released its manifesto for the Bihar assembly elections, which promises free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level for the poor and plans to transform Bihar into an industrial and educational hub. The manifesto primarily focuses on youth, women, industries, infrastructure, farmers, and extremely backward castes (EBCs).

The manifesto, released jointly by CM Nitish Kumar, Union minister and BJP national president J P Nadda, JD(U) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, Union ministers Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan, and RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha, has 25 points.

The major promises include more than one crore jobs and employment opportunities, mega skill centres in each district and Rs2,000 per month financial assistance to SC students in higher education. Financial assistance of up to Rs10 lakh to EBC youths for self-employment has also been promised in the manifesto. A commission under a retired Supreme Court judge will be established to assess the socio-economic status of EBCs and suggest measures for their uplift.

The NDA, under its ‘Industrial Mission for Growing Bihar’ plan, envisions an industrial revolution with an investment of Rs1 lakh crore. BJP leader and deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary said, “We will set up Defence Corridor, semiconductor manufacturing park, global capability centres, mega tech city, FinTech city and establish 100 MSME parks besides 50,000+ cottage enterprises to promote ‘Vocal for Local’.”

He further added, "We will establish world-class medical institutions, complete construction of approved medical colleges in every district, set up modern super-specialty hospitals dedicated to children and autism and a dedicated 'centre of excellence' for identified priority sportspersons in every division."

In an attempt to make Bihar a “new-age economy”, Choudhary said, “State-of-the-art manufacturing units and 10 new industrial parks would be developed to position Bihar as a new-age economy by attracting investments of Rs50 lakh crore and creating a ‘global back-end hub’ and a ‘global workplace’ over the next five years.”

Outlining measures for women's empowerment, Choudhary said the NDA govt would launch 'Mission Crorepati' to make one crore 'lakhpati didis' and provide financial help of up to Rs2 lakh to Jeevika didis under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. The govt has already transferred Rs10,000 each to over 1.21 crore women beneficiaries, he added.

The NDA promises to double output and make the state self-sufficient in pulse production by 2030. “We will set up five mega food parks, develop Bihar as a global export centre for makhana, fish, and other products, and transform Mithila into a mega textile and design park and ‘Anga’ into a mega silk park,” Choudhary said. Farmers will get Rs3,000 annually under the new Karpoori Thakur Kisan Samman Nidhi, on top of the Rs6,000 from the Centre. In addition, there is a promise of Rs1 lakh crore investment in agricultural infrastructure and a guarantee of MSP for paddy, wheat, pulses and maize.

To help the fishermen, the NDA will initiate a ‘Fish-Milk Mission’ that will provide Rs9,000 to each beneficiary under the Matsya Palak Yojana. “Chilling and processing centres will be established at block levels under the ‘Milk Mission’ to enhance milk production,” Choudhary said.

The manifesto promises seven expressways, modernisation of 3,600km of railway track, metro rail in four new cities, a Greenfield city in New Patna, and satellite townships near major cities-all this on the infrastructure front. It also promises to develop ‘Sitapuram’ near the birthplace of Mata Sita in Sitamarhi. Aviation infrastructure will see an international airport near Patna and new airports in Darbhanga, Purnia, and Bhagalpur, alongside domestic flights from 10 additional cities. Under its ‘Panchamrit’ programme, the NDA has promised five million new pucca houses, 125 units of free electricity, continued free ration and free medical treatment up to Rs5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat.