In the past, healthcare infrastructure was dismal. Primary Health Centres (PHCs) received, on average, only 39 patients per month, or one or two patients per day, seeking medical treatment, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Ahead of the Rajya Sabha election on March 16, the third and last leg of the ‘Samriddhi Yatra’ launched by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from Supaul ended in Sheikhpura on Saturday (March 14, 2026), with the focus on the development of Bihar. Mr. Kumar ended the yatra by inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of 716 projects worth ₹480 crore in Begusarai and Sheikhpura.
Addressing a crowd at the premises of the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority in Begusarai district, Mr. Kumar said more development would take place in Bihar in the days to come.
The State Government had placed special emphasis on the education sector, and several significant measures had been undertaken to reform and improve the education system in Bihar, the CM said.
While highlighting the work done in the State’s health sector, Mr. Kumar slammed the Opposition’s rule in the State. In the past, healthcare infrastructure was dismal. Primary Health Centres (PHCs) received, on average, only 39 patients per month, or one or two patients per day, seeking medical treatment.
“Since 2006, comprehensive arrangements have been put in place to provide free medicines and medical treatment in government hospitals. Currently, PHCs receive an average of 11,600 patients every month. Previously, Bihar had only six medical colleges; that number has now doubled to 12,” Mr. Kumar said.
Referring to the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) as “useless people”, he reiterated that he had left the alliance with them following their wrongdoings within the government.
“Prior to 2005, the condition of Bihar was pathetic. People would not venture out of their homes after sunset. Society was plagued by frequent conflicts; disputes between Hindus and Muslims were a common occurrence. I have been dedicated to the task of Bihar’s development right from the very beginning,” Mr. Kumar said.
The State Government had set a target of creating employment opportunities for 1 crore youths over the next five years, Mr. Kumar said. The State was progressing continuously, and in the next five years, more developmental work would be undertaken in Bihar, he said.
The National Democratic Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government led by Mr. Kumar had successfully completed the task of realising a vision of development, the foundation of which was originally laid by Shri Babu (the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Krishna Sinha), Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said in Sheikhpura.
“While Karpoori Thakur championed the cause of social justice, Nitish Kumar has successfully brought [to Bihar] the legacies of both leaders — upholding Shri Babu’s developmental agenda alongside Karpoori Thakur’s commitment to social justice,” Mr. Choudhary said.
Bihar’s developmental journey would continue unabated under Mr. Kumar’s guidance, Mr. Choudhary said.
Published – March 14, 2026 09:22 pm IST
