Bihar moving on the path of growth with justice: Jitan Ram Manjhi

PATNA: Accepting the guard of honour on the occasion of the 66th Republic Day, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today asserted that the state was moving fast on the avowed path of "growth with justice."

Manjhi presided over the parade at the historic Gandhi Maidan instead of Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, also the West Bengal Governor, with the latter unfurling the tricolour in Kolkata.

Highlighting the achievements of his government in the past one year, Manjhi said as part of his government's commitment to provide electricity through a special campaign, the process would begin by organising special camps from February 6 next.

Manjhi underlined achievements in the field of energy and said that 3,000 MW electricity was being supplied in the state at present and there is a target to enhance it to 4,500 MW by next year.

Describing law and order as a priority area for his government, the Chief Minister said emphasis was being given to police modernisation and training of police personnel.

Manjhi asserted that his government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption and the vigilance department and state vigilance bureau were regularly taking action in this regard.

The size of the state plan was being increased regularly. The state plan which was Rs 34,000 crore in 2013-14 was enhanced to Rs 57,000 crore for 2014-15 fiscal, he said.

In the field of education, in fulfillment of a target to set up a high school in every panchayat, a total of 1291 such schools have been established, he said.

In the health sector, the state has included pentavalent vaccine in the regular vaccination programme from January 6 this year, the CM said.

For welfare of mahadalits, the poorest among dalits, the state government is now providing 5 decimal free land to them in place of 3 decimal earlier, Manjhi, who himself hails from mahadalit section, said.

To maintain communal harmony in the state, programme is underway for encirclement of "kabristan". Under this a sum of Rs 4,600 crore is being spent and boundaries of 40 graveyards have been completed so far, he said.