Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has announced an ambitious target of creating employment opportunities for one crore people by 2030, with entrepreneurship and local manufacturing at the centre of the state government's strategy. He made the announcement while addressing an orientation programme for beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna on Thursday.
The government has also introduced measures to give preference to products manufactured in Bihar in government procurement, provided they meet prescribed quality standards. The initiative is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs to establish manufacturing units within the state instead of producing goods elsewhere and selling them in Bihar. The government intends to create a larger market for locally manufactured products through public procurement.
Under the revised procurement mechanism, Bihar-based entrepreneurs are also being given greater opportunities to participate in government contracts. For tenders valued at up to Rs 50 crore, a local entrepreneur who ranks L2, L3 or L4 could be considered for the contract if willing to execute the work at the L1 rate. The measure is intended to increase the participation of local businesses in government projects.
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The state government is currently working to create around 45,000 new entrepreneurs through its entrepreneurship initiatives, with about Rs 3,500 crore earmarked for the programme. Around 7,000 beneficiaries received their first or subsequent instalments of financial assistance during Thursday's event. Under the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, eligible beneficiaries can receive assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh for establishing enterprises, including a grant or subsidy and a loan component.
Choudhary said the expansion of micro, small and medium enterprises would be important for generating employment within Bihar and reducing migration caused by limited livelihood opportunities. He cited the potential employment impact of the entrepreneurship programme, saying that if about 44,000 entrepreneurs each provide jobs to an average of five people, it could create around 2.2 lakh direct employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister also encouraged Bihar-based entrepreneurs to list their products on the Government e-Marketplace and participate in public procurement. The government sees stronger links between local manufacturers and government purchasing as a way to provide businesses with stable demand while encouraging investment and production within the state. The broader objective is to strengthen Bihar's industrial base, expand entrepreneurship and create more employment opportunities through local enterprises and MSMEs.
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