PM's Mithilanchal tour likely to embolden NDA

The second visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bihar in two months and ahead of assembly polls due later this year, happened in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack, but he stuck to the agenda of the meeting revolving around the Panchayati Raj institutions and how Bihar has benefitted immensely with the Centre's programmes and policies under the leadership of chief minister Nitish Kumar.

- Vijay Swaroop

PATNA:

Recalling that apart from the Panchayati Raj Day, it was also the anniversary of Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Modi listed the initiatives of the Centre to boost rural economy and the invaluable role of farmers in it. "Mithilanchal is vulnerable to floods as the rivers like Kosi, Gandak, Kamla and others wreak havoc. For flood mitigation, the Centre has given ₹11,000 crore for flood mitigation by building embankments and canals to not only provide relief from inundation, but also augment irrigation potential," he added.

He said that he would like to thank Nitish Kumar for providing 50% reservation to women in Panchayati Raj institutions and Bihar was the first state to do so. The self-help groups of Jeevika Didis have transformed lives. The centre has today provided ₹1,000 crore financial assistance to make them more empowered," he added.

Modi said that 'makhana' was a superfood and it is part of Mithila's culture. "But now we are making endeavours to make it a means of economic prosperity also. It has been given GI tag to give it a distinct identity of the region it belongs to. The National Institute of Food Technology and Management is on the anvil in Bihar to add to the makhana board and national status to the makhana research institute," he added.