Purnia: MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, voiced strong demands for the development of Purnia and Bihar during his speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He called on the Central Government to establish a High Court Bench, an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Purnia to bolster the region’s growth. Additionally, he urged the government to set up industries focusing on local produce such as maize, makhana, fish, and tea, which would generate employment and strengthen the regional economy.
Yadav also appealed for special assistance to rehabilitate the Bhimnagar Barrage, emphasizing its significance in flood control and agriculture. Furthermore, he pressed for the allocation of special state status and a comprehensive economic package for Bihar, highlighting the dire need for the revival of defunct industries, including jute mills, sugar mills, and other factories across the state.
Criticizing the implementation of central policies, Yadav questioned the lack of transparency surrounding demonetization, particularly the absence of concrete data on black money and counterfeit currency. He labeled the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system as disproportionately favoring large corporations while adversely impacting small and medium businesses. He expressed dissatisfaction over the 5% reduction in Bihar’s GST budget and questioned the withholding of Jharkhand’s GST allocation of ₹1.36 lakh crore.
The MP highlighted the inadequacy of welfare schemes, criticizing the pension amount of ₹400 as insufficient and demanding it be raised to ₹2,000. He also called for an increase in the funds allocated for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and toilet construction schemes.
Yadav raised concerns over Bihar’s education and employment scenario, describing the state as one of the worst-affected by unemployment and migration. He demanded a monthly unemployment allowance of ₹5,000-₹6,000 for youth to alleviate the crisis. Additionally, he advocated for higher salaries for Anganwadi workers, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers, and cooks, citing their significant contributions to grassroots welfare programs.
On healthcare, the MP criticized the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, alleging that private hospitals exploit patients by generating exorbitant bills. He suggested that essential diagnostic services like MRI and CT scans, along with medicines, should be made free of cost to ensure accessibility.
Yadav also drew attention to the frequent floods and droughts that plague Bihar, noting that three-quarters of the state is affected by floods annually. He stressed the need for concrete flood and drought management plans and called for budgetary provisions to enhance rail connectivity in the region.
Concluding his address, Pappu Yadav reiterated Bihar’s demand for special state status, arguing that it is crucial to address the state’s developmental challenges. He emphasized that tourism and industry could be pivotal in transforming Bihar’s economy if supported with adequate resources and infrastructure by the Central Government.
“Granting special status to Bihar would be a testament to the Central Government’s commitment to the state’s progress and prosperity,” he stated.
