Free land for industries generating more employment, enhanced subsidies, and smoother dispute resolution involving disputed industrial land – these are among the incentives that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced ahead of assembly polls.
The incentives, announced as part of a special economic package, are aimed at attracting private investment in the state in a bid to fulfil the government’s commitment of generating one crore new jobs in the state over the next five years.
In a post on X, Nitish said his government has fulfilled the target of providing government jobs and employment to 50 lakh youth as part of their commitment made under Saat Nischay-2 in 2020.
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“Now, the government has set a new target of providing jobs and employment to one crore youth in the next five years,” Nitish Kumar said, adding that the government is encouraging those setting up industries and engaging in self-employment in the state by offering various facilities.
The CM further stated: “Now, a special economic package will be given to entrepreneurs for setting up industries in Bihar.”
Among the measures are “capital subsidy, interest subsidy, and GST-related incentives will be doubled” for eligible enterprises. The government will also arrange for land in all districts to set up industries. “Enterprises that generate higher employment will be provided land free of cost,” the post said.
The benefits that will be extended to entrepreneurs setting up industries within the next six months include the resolution of disputes related to allotted industrial land. According to Kumar, the initiative aims to “further promote industries in Bihar, while making the youth of the state skilled and self-reliant”.
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The announcement comes when employment has been a key electoral issue in the state, with Opposition leaders blaming the migration in the state on insufficient job opportunities and lack of industrial growth.
The announcement is in line with last month’s Cabinet decision to generate one crore jobs by 2030 across both public and private sectors. As part of the initiative, the government had set up a 12-member high-level committee headed by the development commissioner.
“The committee will include heads of 11 departments – Finance, General Administration, Agriculture, Rural Development, Animal and Fish Resources, Industries, Information Technology, Science and Technology, Education, Tourism, and Labour Resources,” one official had said.