In India, this is the era of our eastern states: PM

Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation development projects worth over Rs 7,000 crore in Motihari, Bihar today. Offering his salutations at the feet of Baba Someshwarnath during the sacred month of Sawan, the Prime Minister sought blessings, expressing his wish for happiness and prosperity in the lives of all residents of Bihar. Addressing the gathering, Shri Modi said this is the land of Champaran, a land that has shaped history. During the freedom movement, this land gave Mahatma Gandhi a new direction. He emphasized that the inspiration from this very land will now shape Bihar’s new future. He extended congratulations to all present and to the people of Bihar for these development initiatives.

Shri Modi remarked that the 21st century is witnessing rapid global progress, noting that the dominance once held solely by Western nations is now increasingly shared by Eastern countries, whose participation and influence are growing. He emphasized that Eastern nations are now gaining new momentum in development. Drawing a parallel, the Prime Minister stated that just as Eastern countries are advancing globally, in India, it is the era of the eastern states. He affirmed the government’s resolve to ensure that, in the coming times, Motihari in the East becomes as prominent as Mumbai in the West. Shri Modi envisioned equal opportunities in Gaya as in Gurugram, industrial growth in Patna akin to Pune, and development in Santhal Pargana comparable to Surat. He expressed hope that tourism in Jalpaiguri and Jajpur would set new records like Jaipur, and that the people of Birbhum would progress like those in Bengaluru.

“To advance Eastern India, Bihar must be transformed into a developed state”, emphasised Shri Modi, stating that rapid progress in Bihar is possible today because both the Centre and the State have governments committed to Bihar’s development. He cited data to illustrate the contrast in support: during the 10 years of the previous governments when they were in power at the Centre, Bihar received only around ₹2 lakh crore, remarking that this was a form of political retaliation against the government led by Shri Nitish Kumar. The Prime Minister asserted that after coming to power in 2014, his government ended this politics of vendetta against Bihar, stressing that under their rule over the past 10 years, nearly ₹9 lakh crore has been allocated for Bihar’s development. He pointed out that this is four times more than what was provided under previous dispensation, affirming that this funding is being utilized for public welfare and development projects across Bihar.

Underscoring the importance of today’s generation in understanding the despair Bihar faced two decades ago, Shri Modi stated that under the rule of previous governments, development was stalled and it was nearly impossible for funds meant for the poor to reach them. He criticized the then leadership for being focused solely on looting money meant for the poor. The Prime Minister praised the resilience of Bihar’s people, calling it a land where the impossible is made possible. He commended the public for liberating Bihar from the shackles of  previous dispensation, enabling direct delivery of welfare schemes to the poor. Shri Modi also highlighted that over the past 11 years, more than 4 crore houses have been built under the PM Awas Yojana across the country, with nearly 60 lakh constructed in Bihar alone. He noted that this figure surpasses the total population of countries like Norway, New Zealand, and Singapore. “In Motihari district alone, around 3 lakh families have received pucca houses, and the count continues to grow rapidly. Over 12,000 families in the region have received the keys to their new homes today”, said Shri Modi. Additionally, more than 40,000 poor families have received funds in their bank accounts to build pucca houses, with the majority belonging to Dalit, Mahadalit, and backward communities. The Prime Minister remarked that under  previous government rule, it was unimaginable for the poor to receive such housing. He recalled that during their tenure, people feared even painting their homes, worried that landlords would be targeted. He asserted that leaders from the erstwhile ruling party could never have provided pucca houses to the people.

Crediting Bihar’s progress to the strength and determination of its mothers and sisters, Shri Modi stated that women in Bihar clearly understand the significance of every step taken by their government. He acknowledged the large presence of women at the event and recalled the days when they had to hide even ₹10, lacking access to bank accounts, and were denied entry into banks. The Prime Minister affirmed his understanding of the dignity of the poor and recounted how he questioned banks on why their doors were closed to the underprivileged. He highlighted the massive campaign launched to open Jan Dhan accounts, which greatly benefited women, with approximately 3.5 crore women in Bihar now having Jan Dhan accounts. Shri Modi emphasized that government scheme funds are now being transferred directly into these accounts. He further mentioned that the Bihar government, under Shri Nitish Kumar, recently increased the monthly pension for the elderly, differently-abled, and widowed mothers from ₹400 to ₹1,100. The Prime Minister pointed out that this money is being deposited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. He further stated that in the past one and a half months alone, over 24,000 self-help groups in Bihar have received more than ₹1,000 crore in assistance, attributing this success to the financial empowerment provided by Jan Dhan accounts held by mothers and sisters.

Underlining the powerful outcomes of women empowerment initiatives, noting the rising number of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ across the country and in Bihar, the Prime Minister stated that the national goal is to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, and so far, 1.5 crore women have achieved this milestone. He emphasized that over 20 lakh women in Bihar have become Lakhpati Didis, with more than 80,000 women in Champaran alone joining self-help groups to reach this status. Shri Modi announced the release of ₹400 crore as a Community Investment Fund, aimed at strengthening the power of Nari Shakti. He praised the “Jeevika Didi” scheme launched by Shri Nitish Kumar, which has paved the way for lakhs of women in Bihar to become self-reliant. 

Reiterating their party’s vision: ‘Bihar’s progress is essential for India’s progress’,  Shri Modi  emphasized that Bihar will advance only when its youth move forward. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a prosperous Bihar and employment for every youth. The Prime Minister stated that significant efforts have been made in recent years to create employment opportunities within Bihar itself, commending Shri Nitish Kumar’s government for appointing lakhs of youth in government roles with full transparency. He noted that new resolutions have been taken by Bihar Chief Minister to further employment for Bihar’s youth, and assured that the Central Government is fully supporting these efforts shoulder to shoulder.

The Prime Minister announced that the Central Government has recently approved a major scheme aimed at supporting first-time job seekers in the private sector. Under this scheme, youth receiving their first appointment in a private company will be granted ₹15,000 by the Central Government. He stated that the scheme will be implemented starting August 1 and will involve an expenditure of ₹1 lakh crore by the Centre,  emphasising that this initiative will significantly benefit the youth of Bihar. Shri Modi also highlighted efforts to promote self-employment in Bihar through schemes like the Mudra Yojana. He noted that in the past two months alone, lakhs of loans have been disbursed under the Mudra Yojana in Bihar, adding that in Champaran specifically, 60,000 youth have received Mudra loans to support their self-employment ventures.

Asserting that leaders from other parties can never provide employment, especially those who, under the guise of offering jobs, seize people’s land, Shri Modi urged the public to remember the contrast between the era of lanterns and today’s Bihar, illuminated by new hopes. He credited this transformation to Bihar’s journey with their coalition government, affirming that Bihar’s resolve remains firm and unwavering in its support for the coalition. 

The Prime Minister highlighted the decisive action taken against Naxalism in recent years, which has greatly benefited the youth of Bihar. He stated that districts like Champaran, Aurangabad, Gaya, and Jamui—once held back by Maoist influence—are now witnessing the decline of extremism. He emphasized that in areas once overshadowed by Maoist violence, youth are now dreaming big,  and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completely freeing India from the grip of Naxalism.

“This is a new India—an India that spares no effort in punishing the enemies, mobilizing forces from both land and sky”, declared Shri Modi, recalling that it was from the soil of Bihar that he had resolved to launch Operation Sindoor. He affirmed that today, the success of that operation is being witnessed by the entire world.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Bihar lacks neither capability nor resources and today, Bihar’s resources are becoming instruments of its progress. He highlighted the rise in makhana prices following efforts by their government, attributing it to the integration of makhana farmers with larger markets. He also mentioned the formation of a Makhana Board to further support this sector. Shri Modi listed several key products—banana, litchi, Mircha rice, Katarni rice, Zardalu mango, and Maghai paan—as examples of Bihar’s agricultural richness. He emphasized that these and many other products will connect Bihar’s farmers and youth to global markets.

Stating that increasing farmers’ produce and income is a top priority for the government, Shri Modi highlighted that under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, approximately ₹3.5 lakh crore has been disbursed to farmers across the country. He noted that in Motihari alone, over 5 lakh farmers have received more than ₹1,500 crore through this scheme.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the government does not stop at slogans or promises,it delivers through action. He emphasized that when their Government says it works for the backward and extremely backward communities, this commitment is reflected in its policies and decisions. He stated that their mission is clear: priority to every backward individual, whether it is backward regions or backward classes, they remain central to the government’s priorities. Shri Modi pointed out that for decades, over 110 districts were labeled as backward and neglected and their government prioritized these districts by designating them as aspirational districts and driving their development. The Prime Minister noted that even India’s border villages were long considered “last villages” and left behind, but the government redefined them as “first villages” and prioritized their development. He highlighted that the OBC community had long demanded constitutional status for the OBC Commission—a demand fulfilled by their coalition government. Shri Modi mentioned the launch of the Janman Yojana for the most marginalized among tribal communities, with ₹25,000 crore being allocated for their development. The Prime Minister announced a new major initiative aligned with this vision: the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, recently approved by the Union Cabinet. Under this scheme, 100 districts,agriculturally rich in potential but lagging in productivity and farmer income will be identified and prioritized. He stated that farmers in these districts will receive targeted support under the scheme. He emphasized that this will directly benefit nearly 1.75 crore farmers across the country, with a significant share belonging to Bihar.

Highlighting the inauguration and foundation laying of railway and road projects worth thousands of crores, Shri Modi stated that these projects will significantly enhance convenience for the people of Bihar. He also flagged off the Amrit Bharat Express on four different routes across the country. The Prime Minister also highlighted that the Amrit Bharat Express will now run directly from Motihari-Bapudham to Anand Vihar, Delhi, mentioning that the Motihari railway station is being redeveloped with modern facilities and a new look. He added that the doubling of the Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj rail line will greatly improve travel convenience on this route.

Emphasizing Champaran’s deep connection with India’s faith and cultural heritage, Shri Modi stated that the Ram-Janaki Path will pass through Motihari’s Sattarghat, Kesariya, Chakia, and Madhuban. He highlighted that the new railway line being developed from Sitamarhi to Ayodhya will enable devotees from Champaran to travel to Ayodhya for darshan. He remarked that these initiatives will significantly enhance connectivity in Bihar and generate new employment opportunities in the region.

The Prime Minister criticised the previous governments for having long engaged in politics in the name of the poor, Dalits, backward classes, and tribal communities and that they not only deny equal rights but also fail to show respect to those outside their own families. He asserted that Bihar is witnessing their arrogance clearly today. Calling out for protecting Bihar from their malicious intent, Shri Modi praised the dedicated efforts of the current Bihar Government and urged everyone to collectively accelerate Bihar’s development and move toward a brighter future. He concluded by calling for a shared resolve to build a new Bihar and congratulated the people for the development projects inaugurated today.

The Governor of Bihar, Shri Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Shri Jitan Ram Manji, Shri Giriraj Singh, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Shri Chirag Paswan, Shri Ramnath Thakur, Shri Nityanand Rai, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary were present among other dignitaries at the event.