Poonam Sharma
Real Emergencies – There are rare instances where the shifts in planetary alignments can be so dramatic that they create ripples in our earthly world. With Bihar going into a decisive election, the NDA has released its *Sankalp Patra*, a detailed roadmap promising transformation, not mere welfare. The manifesto was released in Patna by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. The detailed development agenda envisages a comprehensive action plan for generating employment, empowerment of women, and revamping the agrarian economy of the state.
The underlying message of the manifesto is clear: growth with inclusion. This positions Bihar as a state ready to leap from dependency to self-reliance and from migration-driven survival to opportunity-driven prosperity. It also signals that should the NDA, especially under BJP’s leadership, obtain a full majority, Bihar might witness a period of political stability with accelerated reform.
1 Crore Jobs: From Promise to Economic Vision
Perhaps the most ambitious promise in the NDA’s manifesto is the creation of **over 1 crore jobs** in all sectors. More than a political rhetoric, this is a well-thought response to the greatest challenge staring Bihar in the face-unemployment. The manifesto envisions job creation through a combination of industrial investment, agricultural modernization, and skill development.
The proposal is in tune with the greater aim of the NDA to develop Bihar as a *Global Skill Hub*. In fact, with 65% of its population under 35 years of age, the move essentially plans to convert Bihar’s demographic dividend into a workforce capable of powering India’s next growth phase.
The manifesto promises to establish **100 MSME parks**, which can act as anchors for local entrepreneurship and rural employment. This is coupled with establishing **Centers of Excellence for sports and skill training** geared at empowering the youth not just with degrees, but with employable skills.
Empowering Women From Beneficiaries to Builders
In an unprecedented move, the NDA has pledged to make **1 crore women “Lakhpati Didis”** — financially self-sufficient entrepreneurs. Based on successful SHG programs, this will provide up to ₹2 lakh in financial assistance for small enterprises, micro-businesses, or self-employment ventures to women.
It recognises that the very social fabric and economy of Bihar rests on the participation of its women. From weaving cooperatives to dairy collectives, Bihar’s women have proven that grassroots empowerment leads to macro-level growth. This manifesto takes this forward with a promise for financial inclusion, training, and digital literacy for rural women.
This reflects a broader ideological consistency within the NDA, especially BJP’s model of governance, in which social upliftment is tied more to economic independence than state dependency.
Farmers and Rural Transformation: The Karpuri Thakur Scheme
Agriculture remains the backbone of Bihar’s economy, and in the NDA’s Sankalp Patra, much space is devoted to it. The **Karpuri Thakur Kisan Samman Nidhi** marks the beginning of a new chapter in rural reforms along the lines of successful DBTs.
Under this scheme, the government promises regular income support to farmers, along with ensuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all major crops. This could significantly raise the incomes of small and marginal farmers, who are the majority in Bihar’s agrarian population.
The NDA has also announced **₹1 lakh crore investment in agricultural infrastructure, with a focus on irrigation, cold storage, food processing, and rural logistics. This is not about farm subsidies alone; this is all about building, in the long run, an agricultural value chain — from farms to markets, farmers to industry.
Such an investment may transform Bihar into an agro-industrial hub that can compete with more industrially advanced states without compromising on its rural character.
Inclusion and Social Justice: A Commitment to the Marginalized
While employment and agriculture dominate the headlines, the manifesto also covers social justice-a very deep-seated factor in Bihar’s political psyche.
While releasing the manifesto, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary asserted that the NDA is still committed to the upliftment of the **Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs)**. He declared **₹10 lakh financial assistance** for different sub-categories within the EBC community to help them move upward both socially and economically.
The government also intends to establish a **High-Level Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge** for the evaluation of the socio-economic condition of these communities and to recommend actionable reforms. This is a structured and evidence-based approach, deviating from the populist tokenism that characterizes caste politics in Bihar.
It signals the beginning of governance based on data, planning, and measurable results-an approach which may well redefine Bihar’s social policy model if the NDA achieves a decisive mandate.
A Vision Beyond Elections: Building a Developed Bihar
The manifesto of the NDA is not a set of promises, but a furtherance of something far larger-the *Viksit Bharat* vision. It represents that unique philosophy of the Modi government, according to which welfare and empowerment, reform and continuity, and nationalism and grassroots inclusion do not and need not come apart.
If implemented effectively, the manifesto could accelerate Bihar’s transition from one of India’s most backward states into a model of integrated growth, where industrial parks coexist with green fields and digital literacy complements traditional livelihoods.
The real test, however, lies in implementation. Whether these pledges translate into sustained policy action or mere electoral rhetoric depends on the full majority that the NDA will secure.
A stable NDA government with a strong BJP majority could well mean much smoother coordination between the state and central governments, which would translate into quicker money flow, approval for Central projects, and greater confidence among private investors.
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Conclusion: A Promise of Continuity and Confidence
The NDA’s *Sankalp Patra* for Bihar is both a political document and an economic vision statement. It recognizes Bihar’s historical challenges, yet its untapped potential.
Focused on jobs, women, farmers, and social justice, the manifesto places Bihar not as a recipient of largesse but as a constituent of India’s growth story. But if the BJP-led NDA is able to secure a clear majority in Bihar, the state might herald a new era of pragmatic governance in which political stability fuels developmental certainty, and every promise is not merely a pledge but a plan for progress. — Keywords: MSP guarantee, EBC upliftment, Bihar development. **Hashtags:
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