Is Bihar really developing under mahagathbandhan sarkar?
Assessing whether Bihar is truly developing under the Mahagathbandhan government involves examining various indicators such as economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and social welfare initiatives.
Economic and Job Creation Initiatives
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Job Creation: The Mahagathbandhan government, led by Nitish Kumar, has emphasized job creation as a key focus area. Thousands of jobless youths have received appointment letters for government jobs, particularly as school teachers. By January 2024, the state planned to distribute appointment letters to over one lakh newly recruited teachers, marking significant progress in fulfilling its promise of providing 10 lakh government jobs by 20251.
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Private Sector Development: Besides government jobs, the state is working to create opportunities in the private sector, especially in infrastructure construction1.
Infrastructure and Development
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Contract Cancellations: However, there have been controversies, such as the cancellation of contracts worth Rs 826 crore by the current NDA government, which were awarded during the previous Mahagathbandhan regime. These cancellations were due to discrepancies in the contractor selection process for rural water supply projects3.
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GDP Growth: Historically, Bihar's GDP has shown steady growth under Nitish Kumar's leadership, increasing from Rs 77,000 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 6.1 lakh crore in 2020-21. However, the state's per capita income remains low compared to the national average2.
Social Welfare and Governance
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Education: Bihar has prioritized education spending, but despite higher budget allocations, the state remains educationally backward according to the Niti Aayog's education index2.
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Governance: The Mahagathbandhan government has also focused on providing social security and employment opportunities to economically weaker sections, which was a significant poll plank during the last Bihar Assembly elections1.
In summary, while the Mahagathbandhan government has made strides in job creation and social welfare, challenges persist in terms of economic inequality and infrastructure development. The state's development trajectory is complex, with both positive initiatives and ongoing challenges.