Nitish Kumar launches 'smart villages' programme to check migration to cities

Bihar CM is crisscrossing the state to take feedback on the "seven resolves" that aim to provide better civic amenities in villages

Wondering how could a city be made 'smart' with a "meager" sum of Rs 500 crore, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said his government has launched programmes to create 'smart villages' so that people do not need to move to cities.

"I do not know how a city could be made smart at a meager sum of Rs 500 crore over a period of five years. Anyways this is a Central government scheme," he said at a meeting here in the fourth phase of his 'Nishchay yatra'.

He said in the remaining four years of its term, his government aims at creating smart villages through the implementation of "seven resolves"- programmes for providing free electricity connection, toilets, drinking water, and sewage connection to all areas.

"When all villages of Bihar become smart, who would feel like moving to cities for better civic amenities?" the Chief Minister asked.

As part of the "Nishchay yatra" launched on November 9, Kumar is crisscrossing the state to take feedback on the "seven resolves".

Accompanied by ministerial colleagues Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Chandrasekhar and state police chief P K Thakur, the Chief Minster highlighted the measures his government has initiated with special focus on youths and women by way of "seven resolves".

Kumar exhorted women to keep a close vigil on people engaged in liquor trade.