New Delhi, September 19, 2020: Facing tough questions on development and unemployment in the poll-bound Bihar, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on a spree to launch Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects under its different Public Sector Units (PSUs) to soothe angry voters and win the battle of perception.
For the first time since COVID-19 paralyzed country’s economy and migrants struggling to go back to the north Indian states from different metro cities grabbed headlines for weeks, the ruling party is going to face voters in one of such states - Bihar.
The state which is slated for polls in November, has witnessed many PSUs including NTPC, REC, PFC dedicating their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in different districts of the state over the last fortnight.
On September 19, the Union Minister also laid foundation stone for the CSR projects to be undertaken by REC Ltd. worth Rs 24.38 Crore, in Muzaffarpur Aspirational District, Bihar. The Muzaffarpur district is among the aspiration districts among the 100+ such districts which need special attention for CSR projects.
According to the REC, the projects will include construction of 100 bedded waiting hall for the attendant of patients, multipurpose hall and incubation center at Sadar Hospital and procurement & installation of 25 nos. of incubators at District Hospital and PHCs. Further, construction of 200 bedded rest room (Vishram Sadan) will be done for patient’s attendants in Sri Krishna Medical College & Hospital, Muzaffarpur. Under the same project, renovation of 50 of Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) will be done and containers for storing food grains, LPG gas connection will be provided.
On September 18, Union Minister of State (IC) for Power & New and Renewable Energy R K Singh dedicated CSR projects undertaken by REC Ltd. (Formerly Rural Electrification Corporation) worth Rupees 1.64 Crore, in Koilwar of (Bhojpur Dirtict, Bihar). There was a total of 14 schemes, which included 8 schemes for construction of P.C.C. roads, 3 schemes for installation of LED/ Solar and high mast lights, Construction of 3 community halls.
On September 17, Minister of State for Power & New and Renewable Energy RK Singh inaugurated several projects of REC Ltd’s under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). These projects are worth Rs 2.34 crore that will be implemented in Arrah, Bhojpur district.
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Through video conferencing, the minister inaugurated around 28 schemes, which included 13 schemes for P.C.C. Construction of roads, 11 schemes for installation of LED/ Solar and high mast lights, 4 other schemes for general public viz. construction of boundary wall in Gaushala, construction of shed in Mahavir temple, renovation of Arrah’s fish market and construction of new class rooms and boundary wall in Mohanpur Primary School. REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) is a Navratna NBFC focusing on Power Sector Financing and Development across India.
Just a day before (on September 16), the minister had dedicated a total of 69 projects of NHPC and PFC in Bhojpur districts only. Out of these, 33 projects were in Shahpur block and 39 projects in Bihayi block. These projects in both the blocks include works as construction of PCC road at 55 locations, community building and chabutras at 3 locations, solar / LED / high mast lights at 7 locations, construction of open gym at 2 locations, construction of drainage system at 2 locations, Chhath Ghat at 1 location and library and community building at 2 locations. The total cost of all these projects is about Rs 9 crore.
CMD, NHPC A K Singh said that all these projects have been completed in these two blocks at a cost of about Rs 9 crore.
The minister also inaugurated a host of facilities developed by NTPC in Bihar at NTPC Barh (1320 MW) and two wholly-owned subsidiaries of NTPC - Nabinagar (NPGCL, 660 MW) and Kanti (KBUNL, 610 MW) on September 12. These facilities have been developed for the benefit and upliftment of communities of the region as part of NTPC’s CSR initiative. Singh also inaugurated two Community Centres- Sahari and Sahnaura at Barh, Patna and few more.
Other than these CSR projects, union government has also announced plethora of new projects. Like, on September 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated various projects under ‘Namami Gange’ Yojana and ‘AMRUT’ Yojana in Bihar. Four schemes inaugurated include sewerage treatment plants at Beur and Karam-Leechak in Patna city, as well as water-related projects in Siwan and Chhapra under the ‘AMRUT’ Yojana. Apart from this, foundation stones were also laid for water supply projects in Munger and Jamalpur and River Front Development Scheme under Namami Gange in Muzaffarpur.
On the same day, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved establishment of a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Darbhanga, Bihar. The total cost will be Rs 1264 crore.
It should be noted that Bihar’s legislative assembly election is scheduled in October which will test the water of almost fifteen year of governance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has been running the government with the support of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). On one hand, opposition is accusing Kumar of failed governance and union government for failing in Covid control and creating economic mess, ruling parties including Janta Dal United and BJP are relying on promises and such CSR projects.
