Patna: Chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday said the Centre has agreed to release Bihar’s pending Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) dues before June 30.
Choudhary made the announcement after chairing a high-level meeting with Union minister of agriculture and farmers welfare and rural development Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Sankalp Sabhagar in Lok Sevak Awas. The meeting focused on issues related to Bihar’s agriculture and rural development sectors.
While addressing a programme in Phulwarisharif block here, the CM said Chouhan assured him that the Centre would make available the outstanding amount of Rs 4,000 crore of MGNREGS to Bihar by June 30.
“Several decisions regarding the prosperity of farmers, strengthening of rural infrastructure and faster implementation of public welfare schemes were taken during the meeting,” Choudhary said. He added that the newly structured Viksit Bharat-G RAM G scheme, which replaces the older MGNREGS, would be fully implemented in Bihar from July 1.
The state govt has identified 1.04 crore people in Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana 2.0, of whom 60 lakh have been found eligible. Choudhary said Bihar has requested the Centre to ensure that these poor families receive pucca houses at the earliest.
Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Grameen (PMAY-G), the process of house construction in the state will be accelerated. Choudhary said it was also decided that Bihar would get the first house under PMAY-G in the new financial year.
The CM said the state govt is working to make Jeevika Didi beneficiaries Lakhpati Didi under the Centre’s Aajeevika Yojana. Bihar currently holds the top position in the country in promoting Jeevika Didis as Lakhpati Didis.
Choudhary also urged Chouhan to support the establishment of model centres in the agriculture sector. He requested setting up of ‘centres of excellence’ for tomato in Buxar and onion in Lakhisarai. Similar model centres will be developed for crops such as onion, tomato and mango to boost innovation and productivity.
He said Bihar would work to promote horticulture and improve wheat and paddy production. The state’s fruits will be linked with international markets to help farmers secure better prices. Choudhary also sought the Centre’s cooperation in completing the process for setting up a Makhana Board, citing rising global demand.
He said Bihar, the first state to adopt an agriculture road map, will now focus on integrated farming and develop itself as a model state. Watershed projects and soil conservation programmes will be implemented to protect environmental balance and soil fertility.
