BIHAR

Biharwill receive the largest chunk of the Rs 56,415 crore cleared by theCentrefor 16 states as part of the scheme to boostcapital .

The finance ministry said Bihar is in line to receive Rs 9,640 crore, or 17%, of funds, with Madhya Pradesh next. Opposition-ruled states have cornered Rs 41,566 crore, almost three-fourth so far, with West Bengal, Rajasthan and Odisha among top beneficiaries.

Capital investment projects in diverse sectors havebeen approved, including Health, Education, Irrigation, water supply, power, roads, bridges and railways. Funds for meeting the states share of Jal Jeevan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana have also been provided to enhance pace of the projects in these sectors

Under the scheme, in 2023-24, special assistance is being provided to the states through 50-year interest-free loans up to Rs 1. 3 lakh crore. While there are eight components, the biggest, of Rs 1 lakh, is linked to the share of taxes and duties as prescribed by the 15th Finance Commission, along with compliance with the reforms proposed by the Centre.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar asked the officials to work in mission mode to achieve the targets fixed under different development schemes.

Presiding over the 8th governing body meeting of the Bihar Vikas Mission (BVM) at the CM secretariats Samvad auditorium here, he also called for taking all necessary steps to increase the capacity of milk processing in the state.

Addressing the meeting through videoconferencing, the CM further asked the officials to work fast on the decision taken for increasing the number of Women milk Cooperative Societies across the state to enhance the production of milk.

The Mission was formed in January 2016 for proper implementation and monitoring of the schemes under the Saat Nischay (Seven Resolves) programme of the erstwhile Grand Alliance government headed by Nitish Kumar. But even after Nitish returned to the NDA in July 2017, he continued with the Saat Nischay programme, and thus, the Bihar Vikas Mission continued to operate and monitor the development scheme.

UnionFood Processing minister Pashupati KumarParas inaugurated the office of Capacity Enhancement Centre (CEC) at Patna for training entrepreneurs fromBiharand northeastern states interested in food processing activities.

Paras also launched the Makhana King under one district one product (ODOP) programme, which is part of the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFMFPE). He saidPM Narendra Modiis actively interested in the promotion of food processing activities in the country as well as in Bihar.

Paras also said the Centre has decided to establish a food processing university in north Bihar. He said CM Nitish Kumar should allot the required land for the purpose. He would personally discuss the matter with the CM, Paras said.

Elaborating on the Centres plan for Bihar, Paras said a survey would be made to open food processing unit in every district as per the local need. He said Mega Food Parks were functional in various parts of the country. The Centre has planned to open mini food parks and, accordingly, discussions in this regard will also be held with the State Government.