Contrast Between Current Progress and Past Governance

During a recent video conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for its historical governance in Bihar, which he termed the “lantern rule” under former Chief Minister Lalu Yadav. Modi’s comments were made during the launch of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, a scheme aimed at enhancing women’s employment opportunities in the state.

Empowerment of Women and Infrastructure Improvement

Modi emphasized the transformation of Bihar under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime, asserting that women have gained significant empowerment and infrastructure has seen noticeable improvements, contrasting sharply with the era of RJD’s governance characterized by lawlessness and corruption.

“Today, our daughters are flying fighter planes. But we must not forget the days when the RJD was in power in Bihar. It was the rule of the lantern. During that time, the mothers, sisters, and women of Bihar bore the brunt of lawlessness and corruption,” said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister noted that the dire condition of roads during the RJD’s rule had severe repercussions on women’s lives, including healthcare accessibility.

Launch of Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana

The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana aims to make women self-reliant by providing them with initial seed capital to initiate self-employment projects. During the launch, Rs 10,000 was directly transferred into the bank accounts of 75 lakh women in Bihar, amounting to a total of Rs 7,500 crore.

Modi highlighted that with this financial assistance, women can engage in various small-scale enterprises such as:

• Agriculture
• Animal husbandry
• Handicrafts
• Tailoring
• Weaving
• Small retail ventures, including utensil and cosmetics shops

“Pregnant women couldn’t reach hospitals on time. In critical situations, they couldn’t receive proper treatment. Our government has worked day and night to help you overcome these difficult circumstances,” he remarked.

Commitment to the Welfare of Women

PM Modi reiterated the NDA government’s commitment to the service and prosperity of women, stating that “a brother is happy when his sister is healthy, happy, and her family is financially strong.” He emphasized that both the Central and state governments are focused on enhancing women’s self-respect and independence through initiatives like the Mahila Rojgar Yojana.