Bihar Government Firm on Prohibition Policy
Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav made a significant announcement on Monday, firmly ruling out any possibility of lifting Bihar's prohibition policy. This statement effectively rejects demands from opposition leaders who had been calling for the rollback of the controversial alcohol ban.
The government's existing prohibition policy will continue without any changes, Yadav declared after assuming charge of his department. When reminded about the opposition's persistent demands for withdrawal of the policy, the minister remained steadfast in his position.
Yadav, who ranks among the senior-most ministers in the cabinet, brings previous experience to this role. I have served this department in the past too, he noted, adding that a comprehensive review would be conducted to strengthen both the policy and its implementation.
New Ministers Assume Charge with Development Agenda
Monday marked the beginning of responsibilities for several newly appointed ministers in the Bihar government. The list of ministers who assumed charge includes:
- Rural Development Department Minister Shrawan Kumar
- Deputy CM-cum-Mines and Geology Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha
- Road Construction Department Minister Nitin Nabin
- Food and Consumer Protection Minister Leshi Singh
- Minority Welfare Minister Zama Khan
- Labour Resources Department Minister Sanjay Singh Tiger
- Animal and Fishery Resources Department Minister Surendra Mehta
Major Initiatives for Women Empowerment and Employment
Rural Development Department Minister Shrawan Kumar provided important details about the continuation and expansion of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's flagship Mahila Rojgar Yojana. Under this scheme, 1.51 crore women have already received Rs 10,000 each to start businesses of their choice.
Kumar announced that beneficiaries would now receive additional financial support up to Rs 2 lakh, depending on the nature and success of their enterprises. If a woman has used the money to start a business activity in goat rearing, then she would be given money up to Rs 20,000 to further strengthen it, he explained.
Similarly, women running shops with the initial funding would also qualify for additional support based on their venture's success. The minister noted that printed forms for these applications have been made available through Jeevika Didis in every panchayat.
Regarding employment schemes, Kumar assured that anyone seeking work under MNREGA would be provided employment within a fortnight. However, he clarified that migration to other states for better remuneration remains permissible.
Transparency in Mining and Infrastructure Development
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, who also handles the Mines and Geology portfolio, emphasized significant improvements in transparency within his department. Illegal sand mining and overloading in trucks will not be tolerated, he stated firmly.
The department has made the processes of sand mining and transportation of sand and stone chips more transparent. Sinha revealed plans to expand operations through vrihat khanan (large-scale mining) for other minerals.
Road Construction Department Minister Nitin Nabin outlined ambitious infrastructure goals aligned with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's vision. The department aims to ensure Patna becomes accessible within four hours from any part of the state through a developed network of roads and bridges.
Nabin confirmed that work has progressed according to the 2020-25 vision and announced that the road map for 2025-30 would be released soon. Priority will be given to completing road and bridge projects announced during the Chief Minister's Pragati Yatra.
In his additional role as Urban Development and Housing Minister, Nabin revealed plans to expedite the establishment of satellite towns in all nine administrative divisions, including Sonepur and Sitamarhi, to reduce pressure on major cities.
Technology-Driven Food Distribution System
Food and Consumer Protection Minister Leshi Singh, returning to the department she previously headed during 2020-25, focused on technological improvements in the public distribution system. The department's operations are linked with the welfare of 8 crore poor people in the state, she emphasized.
Singh detailed multiple technology initiatives including:
- GPS-fitted trucks for transporting foodgrains from godowns to PDS shops
- Electronic weighing machines at godowns
- POS devices at PDS shops
- Strengthened storage facilities
Efforts are underway to use technology to prevent leakage in distribution, she added, underscoring the commitment to timely foodgrain distribution to ration card holders.
In a separate development, senior JD(U) leader Narendra Narayan Yadav was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker of the Bihar legislative assembly. The oath of office was administered by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, marking another significant appointment in the state's political landscape.
