MOTIHARI: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said eradication of social evils was essential for the fruits of development to reach everyone, a reason why his government enforced prohibition and launched campaigns against dowry and child marriage.
Nitish said this while addressing a public meeting at Balua village in East Champaran district on the second day of his 'Vikas Sameeksha Yatra'.
He talked about the positives of the prohibition and highlighted the importance of the drive launched by him on Gandhi Jayanti this year against dowry and child marriage.
"While development has always been my government's priority, we believe the fruits of progress cannot reach all the people if the society is beset by evil practices," the JD (U) president said.
The results of prohibition, he said, have been amazing. "Men, who used to squander their earnings on liquor, are now spending their money on their children's education," he said.
Talking about the ill-effects of child marriage, the CM said, "According to a study, 39 out of 100 children in Bihar are stunted. This is said to be directly related to women conceiving at an early age. Many mental illnesses are also said to be caused by pregnancy at a tender age."
Stating that his government noted that one of the reasons people married their daughters off at an early age was the anxiety to arrange an adequate dowry, he said it was, therefore, decided to go for a two-pronged attack on these social evils.
"But alcoholism, dowry and child marriage cannot be eradicated without public awareness. While the law-enforcing agencies will do the needful, the common people must also remain vigilant and tip off the officials," Kumar said.
The JD(U) leader said his government was committed to providing electricity "to every village and, eventually, to every household" in the state.
Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's stress on hygiene and sanitation, he said, "Our government has taken up construction of toilets and supply of potable water on a war footing. These two things alone will remove 90% of the diseases afflicting our people."
Nitish walked around Parshurampur and Balua villages to apprise himself of the progress of various government schemes before addressing the public meeting at Balua. He also reviewed the progress of development initiatives with public representatives at Motihari.
The CM inaugurated and laid the stones through remote of a numbers of projects worth Rs 296 crore. A team of artistes led by district education officer Mohd Iftekhar also presented a cultural programme highlighting the social evils in the society.
State tourism minister Pramod Kumar and cooperative minister Randhir Singh Rana accompanied the CM.
Nitish said this while addressing a public meeting at Balua village in East Champaran district on the second day of his 'Vikas Sameeksha Yatra'.
He talked about the positives of the prohibition and highlighted the importance of the drive launched by him on Gandhi Jayanti this year against dowry and child marriage.
"While development has always been my government's priority, we believe the fruits of progress cannot reach all the people if the society is beset by evil practices," the JD (U) president said.
The results of prohibition, he said, have been amazing. "Men, who used to squander their earnings on liquor, are now spending their money on their children's education," he said.
Talking about the ill-effects of child marriage, the CM said, "According to a study, 39 out of 100 children in Bihar are stunted. This is said to be directly related to women conceiving at an early age. Many mental illnesses are also said to be caused by pregnancy at a tender age."
Stating that his government noted that one of the reasons people married their daughters off at an early age was the anxiety to arrange an adequate dowry, he said it was, therefore, decided to go for a two-pronged attack on these social evils.
"But alcoholism, dowry and child marriage cannot be eradicated without public awareness. While the law-enforcing agencies will do the needful, the common people must also remain vigilant and tip off the officials," Kumar said.
The JD(U) leader said his government was committed to providing electricity "to every village and, eventually, to every household" in the state.
Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's stress on hygiene and sanitation, he said, "Our government has taken up construction of toilets and supply of potable water on a war footing. These two things alone will remove 90% of the diseases afflicting our people."
Nitish walked around Parshurampur and Balua villages to apprise himself of the progress of various government schemes before addressing the public meeting at Balua. He also reviewed the progress of development initiatives with public representatives at Motihari.
The CM inaugurated and laid the stones through remote of a numbers of projects worth Rs 296 crore. A team of artistes led by district education officer Mohd Iftekhar also presented a cultural programme highlighting the social evils in the society.
State tourism minister Pramod Kumar and cooperative minister Randhir Singh Rana accompanied the CM.
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