Bihar : Schemes and Projects
Economy of Bihar is growing at a rapid pace but growth story may lose all its significance, unless it is translated into human development. And in Bihar we can see growth of economy along with the development. Bihar provides an excellent example of growing with inclusive growth. Today, people are living longer in Bihar, more children are going to school and more people have access to clean water and basic sanitation. The progress in human development is evident through many measures of human development — those for health, education, living conditions, or implementation of various welfare programmes for marginalized sections of the population. Very recently the state government has emphatically underlined its human development agenda through its seven commitments (Saat Nischay).
These seven commitments are —
- Arthik Hal, Yuvaon Ka Bal (Economic solution is the strength of the youth),
- Aarakshit Rozgar Mahilaon Ka Adhikar (Assured employment is the right of the women),
- Har Ghar Bijli Lagatar (Constant supply of electricity for each household),
- Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal (Running tap water for evey household),
- Ghar tak Pakki Gali-Naliyan (Paved road and drains for every house),
- Shauchalay Nirman Ghar Ka Samman (Construction of toilets makes decent houses) and
- Awsar Badhe, Aage Padhe (Better facilities for higher education).
Various schemes for development are :-
Kushal Yuva Program
Objective : To provide skill training to the youth. The state government would be providing skill training to the youth.
Youth of 15-25 age group who have passed class 10th or class 12th, have dropped out of formal education and are looking for jobs are eligible to apply for this scheme.
The program will be a 240 hour training program spanning across three months. The courses offered under the program will be job ready skill development courses to make the candidates more confident and suitable for employment.
The course will focus on the basic computer literacy, language skills and soft skills. The candidates will receive a certificate after the successful completion of the course.
Mukhyamantri Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana
Objective : The main objective of the scheme is to financially help the 12th pass unemployed youth during their job search. The assistance amount at the rate of Rs. 1000 per month will be provided to the eligible candidate for a maximum period of two years.
Mukhyamantri Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana or the Chief Minister Self Allowance scheme is a new initiative of state government of Bihar. Under this initiative, state government would financially assist the unemployed youth to find a job.
Under the Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana, Bihar government would provide a financial assistance of Rs. 1000 to each unemployed youth for two years to find a job. The scheme has been formerly launched on 2nd October. Under this scheme, two scheme are being implemented namely student credit card scheme and Kaushal Vikas Yojana in the state.
Har Ghar Bijli Yojana – Free Electricity Connections for All
Objective : The main objective of the scheme is to provide free electricity connections to each and every home in the state. The households which do not have an electricity connection till yet will be included under the scheme. The state government aims to provide electricity connections to 50 Lakh households under the Har Ghar Bijli Yojana.
The state government has directed the agencies and officials to implement the schemes on priority basis. The scheme will be implemented by the year 2018. Har Ghar Bijli Yojana was the last of the 7 schemes to be launched under the Seven Nischay schemes. About 50% of APL (Above Poverty Line) families in rural Bihar who does not have electricity connections will be covered under the free electricity connection scheme. The BPL families in the state are already being covered under the Central Government’s Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana.
Cost of Connection
The connections under the scheme would be provided for free, no charges will be taken from the beneficiaries. However, the electricity consumption bill will have to be paid by the beneficiaries as usual. In case, someone does not want to take the electricity connection, he/she will have to give it in writing along with the reason.
Har Ghar Nal ka Jal
Objective : The main objective is to provide tap water to every household so as to reduce the water problem in the community.
The scheme was launched on 28 September 2016. The state government under the scheme would also invest a large amount in providing tap water across the state.
Shauchalaya Nirman, Ghar ka Samman – Scheme to Help Build Toilets
Objective : The main objective of the Shauchalaya Nirman, Ghar ka Samman scheme is to end the evil practice of outdoor defecation by the year 2019. To achieve the objective, the state government would provide a financial support to each household to build an indoor toilet.
The scheme was launched on 28 September 2016 along with another scheme named as Har Ghar Nal ka Jal. The state government under the scheme would also invest a large amount on building community toilets across the state.
Student Credit Card Scheme
Objective : The main objective is to encourage students to pursue higher education. The education loan of up to Rs. 4 Lakh under the scheme will be provided without any interest. The loan can be availed by the eligible students to pay the institutional fee, buy books, purchase computers, equipment and so forth. The loan amount which can be provided to the students will depend upon the reimbursing capability of the students/parents.
It will help students to pursue higher studies and build their careers. Under the student credit card scheme, the state government would provide interest free loan of up to Rs. 4 Lakh to students for pursuing higher education.
Housing Scheme for Fourth Grade Government Employees
Objective : To provide affordable houses with all the basic residential facilities to fourth grade government employees.
State government Bihar has announced a new housing scheme for the fourth grade government employees in its budget for the financial year 2017-18.
The government has also announced to implement a government employees housing scheme for the fourth-grade government employees and allocated Rs. 873 crores for the same.
Through this scheme, Bihar government will develop housing projects especially for fourth-grade government employees and offer them affordable house with all basic residential facilities.
Patrakar Samman Yojana – Pension Scheme for Journalist
Objective: The main objective of the scheme is to provide pension to the senior journalists having minimum 20 years of experience.
Bihar Patrakar Pension Yojana will soon be renamed as Bihar Patrakar Samman Yojana. The government is planning a strategy to modify the old version of Bihar Journalists’ Pension Scheme by making some amendments in pension rules.
The government also requested the journalist’s delegation to come with some effective suggestions for the scheme and asked them for what method should be used to certify the qualifying criteria of minimum 20 years of working experience in the field of journalism.