The Budget session of two Houses of Bihar Legislature began today with the address of Governor Ramnath Kovind, which highlighted steps taken for maintaining "rule of law" and quality improvement in education, health, roads and power among others.
The Governor's address spoke of progressive steps taken in different fields and also listed future priorities in the form of "7 resolves" for the next five years of the coalition ministry.
During the address opposition BJP and its allies protested against so-called 'achievements' of the government listed by the Governor.
The Governor's speech claimed that there had been a fall in heinous crimes in Bihar.
According to National Crime Record Bureau report for 2014, while the national average of heinous crime for 2014 was 229.2 per cent per one lakh population, it was 174.2 per cent in Bihar, he said adding Bihar was at the 22nd position among states in terms of crime.
To curb incidents of acid attacks, the government has effected check on sale of acid besides providing adequate compensation and treatment to victims of acid attacks, he added.
In addition to this, the Governor said, provision has been made for providing reservation in government jobs to victims of acid attacks.
In a bid to perk up ratio of policemen in comparison to population, a total of 43,761 posts have been created from Deputy Superintendent of Police down to constable levels.
The Governor's address reiterated the policy of zero tolerance to corruption by the state government.
A total of 57 complaints of corruption have been filed before special court for attachment of properties earned through dubious means to the tune of Rs 53.14 crore, he said.
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Giving further details, he said 797 government
officials have been caught in a total of 734 trap cases. Out of it a total of 53 trap cases were done in 2015 itself.
In the education sector, due to sustained efforts only 0.86 per cent children in the age group of 6-14 have been out of school as compared to 12 per cent in 2005, he said.
Money was made available to 17.35 lakh students, both boys and girls, for purchase of bicycle.
In the area of Health, efforts were on to build at least one additional primary health centres in 534 blocks, he said.
In roads sector, 6282 bridges, small and big, have been constructed.
The road construction department along with rural works department have laid 74,000 km of roads in the state.
In boost power supply in the state, production has started in two units of 110 MW at Kanti thermal power in Muzaffarpur. Works are underway for modernisation of power plant at Barauni and Nabinagar in Aurangabad, he added.
Under rural electrification programme out of a total of 2944 electricity deprived villages, 1864 have been electrified
and special campaign has been launched for rest of the villages.
As part of resolve to build toilet at every household, a sum of Rs 23,554 crore would be spend. In addition to this Rs 602 crore would be spend in urban areas to stop open defecation, he said.
The Governor in his address talked about social security pension for elders, widows and physically handicapped and said a total of 67.85 lakh citizens were availing pension.
Under Mukhyamantri Girls marriage scheme, a sum of Rs 7.62 crore has been spent in 2015-16 fiscal, he said.
As part of government's commitment for women empowerment, 35 per cent reservation was being provided to females in all government jobs, he added.
In a bid to end traffic chaos in Patna, the Patna Metro project has been conceived, the Governor said in his address.
