Nitish Kumar flags off 38 'awareness chariots' to propagate his government's good works

PATNA: State’s information and public relations department (I&PRD) on Saturday launched altogether 38 ‘Jagrukta Raths’ (awareness chariots), one for each district, to make people aware about the state government’s good works and chief minister Nitish Kumar’s remarkable steps for social reforms.

Nitish Kumar flagged off all 38 chariots at a programme held outside the ‘Samvad’ auditorium at the CM secretariat. State’s chief secretary Deepak Kumar, secretary to CM-cum- I&PRD secretary Manish Kumar Verma and the CM’s OSD Gopal Singh also were present on the occasion.

Equipped with a big LED TV screen and generator sets, these chariots—in the first phase- will visit every block headquarters in its allotted district and broadcast an hour-long film to inform public about the state government’s various development schemes and the steps taken by the CM to implement and expedite them.

The film will inform people about the welfare programmes undertaken by road construction, health, education, agriculture, social welfare and prohibition and excise departments for development. The film will also educate people about the state government’s ‘Saat Nischay’ programme and the bold steps taken by Nitish Kumar for enforcement of total prohibition and his campaign against the dowry system and child marriage.

“In the second phase, these chariots will go up to the village and weekly rural haat (market) and inform and educate people about the steps taken by Nitish government to improve the standard of living in the rural areas,” an I&PRD official told TOI.

A troupe of artists (Kala Jattha) would also accompany these chariots at selected places. The troupe, through street plays and other modes, would educate people about the benefits of the state government’s social reform programmes like prohibition and campaign against dowry and child marriage, the officer said.