Bihar got Rs 7,750 cr investment in agro-industries: Rajak

Bihar has so far attracted Rs 7,750 crore investment in agriculture-based industries, Food and Industries Minister Shyam Rajak said today.
"We have so far attracted an investment of Rs 7,750 crore in agriculture-based industries despite the state's limitations in resources. Several more projects are coming including those which will be maize-based ones," Rajak said.
Pointing out that the state has a huge potential in food processing industries, Rajak said entrepreneurs calculate their benefits while setting up units in a state and look for discounts in taxes and other sops.
This was the reason behind special status demand for Bihar by the present government.

"Special status demand is not a subject of politics. It is related to development. We need it because we do not have wide-ranging finance options available to other states," he said.
The minister was speaking at a discussion organised on 'the future of development in the state' in the light of a book 'Nitish Engineering: Reconstructing Bihar' written by eminent journalist Sanjay Kumar Sinha.

Stating that the Nitish Kumar government has ensured good governance in the state, Rajak cited the welfare schemes initiated for various sections of society and development work in the field of education, health, roads and others.

He said Kumar's aim is to establish a society based on the principles of equality and inclusiveness without any discrimination on the basis of caste or religion.
This is the reason the government wants to know directly from the people what kind of Bihar they want in 2025 and what development policies they need, Rajak said.
"The work is going on this and it will be ready in a month," Rajak said.
The minister also attacked the Centre for not helping Bihar as much as it helps other states including those in southern India. He also allayed fears that JD(U)'s alliance with RJD will have any adverse impact on development.

"Kumar left NDA as he did not want to let fascist forces become strong in the state. He has always given priority to good governance and development. Similarly there will be no compromise with development in the coming time too," he added.
Speaking on the occasion about his book, Sinha said how during his visits to various parts of the state he found that people belonging to different sections of society had various reasons to cheer about and were happy that the fear factor of pre-Kumar days had vanished.