Patna: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday inaugurated the newly constructed technology centre at Bihta in Patna, along with its four allied extension centres in the respective districts, via remote control. The establishment and opening of these centres have been facilitated with assistance from the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
The four extension centres of the Bihta technology centre are located in Muzaffarpur, Rohtas, Darbhanga, and Munger. On the occasion, Samrat also launched the national Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) hub programme, under which loans are provided to SC and ST entrepreneurs, and initiated another special programme for purchaser development.
Calling the occasion historic, Samrat said, “The technology centre will provide training to youths, after which they would receive diploma and degree certificates. It would help them get not only new work opportunities but also become job creators. The training would be provided in three thematic areas: quality control of products, packaging of products, and their national and international marketing.”
While the Bihta technology centre is spread over 15 acres of land, Samrat said a similar centre would also be established at Gaya, and a directive would be issued to identify land for it. “I appeal to the central government to establish and open 10 other technology centres in the state, so that the youths of the state get skilled. In fact, I would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also request him to consider the state’s demand in this regard,” he said, adding that IIT Patna has been provided Rs 200 crore for establishing an AI research centre on its campus.
He also recalled the developmental work and initiatives taken by former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the past 20 years and said PM Modi is actively contributing to strengthening the state’s economy and infrastructure. He said small-scale industries are being promoted, with a renewed push to engineering education as well as sectors such as agriculture and irrigation.
According to him, the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime has generated entrepreneurial interest in the state. “Our aim is to facilitate investment worth Rs 5 lakh crore by the time the government completes its first year in its new term in November this year,” Samrat said, adding it would create new work opportunities and make the state more prosperous.
He added that directions have been issued to hold camps twice a week at block, circle, and police station levels to provide on-the-spot solutions to public grievances. Among those present were Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Additional Secretary Dr Rajneesh, and State Industry Secretary Kundan Kumar. A documentary film on MSME activities and the Bihta technology centre was also screened on the occasion.
