Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday promised to provide free Wi-Fi in all colleges and universities as well as “self-help allowance” or “unemployment allowance” to the young people of Bihar as he unveiled his seven-point “vision document” ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.
He announced the plan would be implemented over the next five years, if he was given another chance to rule. The implementation of the project will cost Rs2.7 trillion (Dh149 billion). Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently promised a Rs1.25 trillion-worth Special Package for Bihar’s development.
“It’s my resolve. I will implement the plan within a strict time frame of five years, if given the chance to serve the state again,” Kumar told the media today, but didn’t say where the funds would come from.
He asserted that the seven-point plan would give a push to the state’s growth and development. “We have set up the fundaments for development in Bihar. Now, it’s time to focus on taking those projects forward and reap benefits for the state,” Kumar said.
Although his development plan focuses on seven issues, it stresses on addressing issues concerning young people, who constitute the lion’s share of state’s total votes. The move is being called Kumar’s strategy to win their support ahead of the polls.
Kumar also announced “Students Credit Cards”, under which plan students will be given a loan of Rs400,000 to pursue their higher studies; a registration and consultancy centre to arrange employment for young people; Rs1,000 “self-help allowance” aid to the unemployed youths for 18 months; and computer training to arm them with technical skills. He also declared he would provide free Wi-Fi service in universities and colleges, describing it as a “basis necessity” in today’s time.
Furthermore, Kumar said he would provide clean, potable water to every household through pipelines, construct toilets in all homes, give free power connections to each household, link all villages with metalled roads, provide 35 per cent reservation to women in all government jobs in Bihar, and open vocational training centres at the district level. He also promised to open five new medical colleges, several engineering colleges, nursing colleges and polytechnics across the state.
