Nitish inaugurates 'Sitamarhi mahotasav' at goddess Sita birth

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today inaugurated 'Sitamarhi Mahotasav' and laid foundation stones for various schemes worth Rs 48.53 crore for enhancing tourism facilities at Punauradham, the birth place of goddess Sita.

Kumar, who offered prayers at Janki Prakatya Asthali Shaktipeeth, inaugurated a newly constructed "Janki Baal Udyaan" at Dumra in Sitamarhi town built a cost of Rs 1.28 crore, an official release said.

Addressing the public meeting Kumar said that "Every steps are being taken by the government for the development of Punaura Dham, Haleshwar Asthan, Panth Paakar and Sitamarhi...Tourism department has been given the task to develop these places within two years of time. But I would like to see the work finishes at the earliest."

Kumar exhorted people to take a pledge to get rid of social evils like child marriage, dowry etc.

 

Enumerating prominent schemes in detail taken by his government for women's empowerment since he took over the reins in November 2005, Kumar said his government introduced 50 per cent reservation in panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies besides bi-cycle scheme for girl students.

Now his government, which enforced prohibition in the state two years ago, is moving towards de-addiction, the CM said adding that state government has initiated sustained campaign for abolition of social evils like child marriage, dowry etc.

Talking about his ambitious scheme "Mukhya Mantri Kanya Utthan Yojana", he said that under the scheme a girl would be given incentives right from the time of their births till the completion of graduation which would cost the government Rs 54,100 every girl child.

The scheme is intended to improve sex-ratio, bring down female foeticide, prevent child marriage and help motivate girls to pursue studies, Kumar said adding that fruits of development will not reach to every individual untill social evils are wiped out from the society.

Others who spoke at the public meeting included Padma Vibhushan Jagat Guru Rambhadracharya jee Maharaj, Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav, tourism minister Pramod Kumar, Rajya Sabha MP Prabhat Jha, Sitamarhi MP Ram Kumar Sharma and legislator Sunil Kumar Kushwaha.