Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 4: In a significant pre-election announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched education and skill development initiatives worth over Rs 62,000 crore, with a major thrust on Bihar. Speaking at the Skill Convocation Ceremony in New Delhi, he said the new measures aim to empower India’s youth and accelerate Bihar’s educational progress.
Key among the announcements were two flagship programs: the Rs 60,000 crore PM Setu Scheme, which will directly connect Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with industry, and the inauguration of 1,200 skill labs across Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Schools. PM Modi also unveiled a new Skill University in Bihar, dedicated to Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur, calling it a tribute to a leader who fought for the upliftment of marginalised communities.
Taking a veiled jab at political opponents, Modi warned against those attempting to "appropriate" Thakur’s legacy for political gain.
He cited a broad transformation in Bihar’s education sector under the NDA, highlighting expansions at IIT Patna, NIT Patna, and Patna University, along with increased scholarship amounts and interest-free student loans. Thousands of appointment letters were also distributed as part of the employment push.
PM Modi strongly criticised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), blaming it for past misrule, and praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for turning things around. He claimed that over 50 lac jobs have been created in Bihar under the NDA in the past 20 years, including 2.5 lac teacher appointments in the last two years alone. Nitish Kumar, he said, is aiming to double employment creation in the next five years.
Linking economic policy with youth aspirations, the PM also pointed to recent GST cuts on two-wheelers, calling it timely relief for Bihar’s young buyers ahead of Dhanteras.
“India has moved from being in the ‘Fragile Five’ to becoming one of the world’s top three economies. When Bihar’s youth progress, so does the nation,” Modi declared.
The event saw participation from Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Deputy chief ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, JDU working president Sanjay Jha, and lakhs of ITI students and teachers who joined virtually.