Bihar

• 03 Oct 2023

Caste Based Survey Released in Bihar

Why In News?

On October 2, 2023, Bihar Development Commissioner Vivek Kumar Singh held a press conference and released the caste census data.

Key Points:

• According to statistics, the population of extremely backward and backward classes in the state is 63%. Of these, backward classes are 27.12% and extremely backward classes are 36.01%. Scheduled Castes constitute 19.65% and Scheduled Tribes 1.68%, while unreserved (Hindus and Muslims) constitute 15.52% of the total population. Among them, the upper castes (Bhumihars, Brahmins, Rajputs and Kayasthas) constitute 10.56%
• In the first phase of the caste census, the process of survey of households started from January 7, 2023. It was completed by January 31. The second phase was to run from April 15 to May 15, but on May 4, the counting work was stopped on the order of the High Court. The High Court gave the green signal on August 1.
• The state's population has increased by 2.66 crore in 11 years to 13 crore 7 lakh. At the same time, in the report released by the caste-based census, the number of castes has been stated as 214.
• It is noteworthy that for the first time since independence, an ethnic-based survey was released in a state in the country. Before Bihar, states like Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, etc. had initiated caste census, but they could not release the report.

Bihar Becomes the Third State in the Country in Domestic Use of Electricity

Why In News?

According to the central government report released on October 2, 2023, Bihar has come third in the country in terms of domestic electricity consumers. Assam is at the first place and Jharkhand at the second position.

Key Points:

• According to the report, Assam has the highest number of 93 percent domestic electricity consumers out of the total consumers, while Jharkhand has the second highest number of consumers in the domestic category at 92.6 percent.
• In Bihar, 92.1 percent of domestic electricity consumers are in North Bihar (North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited) and 86.8 percent in South Bihar (South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited).
• While electricity consumption had decreased in other states, this consumption increased in Bihar. People used a lot of electronic devices sitting in homes.
• Urban consumers in north Bihar are only 16 percent while in south Bihar it is 29 percent. In rural areas, north Bihar has 84 percent consumers and south Bihar has 71 percent consumers. Among the non-domestic electricity consumers, north Bihar accounted for 6 percent and south Bihar 7.7 percent.
• North Bihar has 0.6 percent consumers and South Bihar has 1 percent consumers. Its number is higher in south Bihar than in north Bihar in agricultural connections. North Bihar has only 1.1 percent agricultural connections, South Bihar has 4.4 percent agricultural connections, while in other categories, North Bihar has 0.2 percent connections and South Bihar has 0.4 percent connections.
• According to the report, an average of six lakh electricity consumers are expected to increase every year in Bihar.

Jeevika Didi's First Makhana Industry to open in Saharsa, Bihar

Why In News?

On October 1, 2023, Saharsa district's Jeevika Project Manager Amit Kumar informed that under the Chief Minister's Micro and Small Cluster Development Scheme, the center of Makhana industry will be established in Saharsa.

Key Points:

• An amount of Rs 2 crore 33 lakh 91 thousand has been approved for setting up the makhana industry. The Makhana industry will operate under Jeevika Women Farmer Producer Company Limited, which will be known as the common facility center of Makhana.
• DM Vaibhav Chaudhary said that in the makhana processing industry, normal (normal) types of makhana will be processed and made of excellent quality. It will be packaged and branded. Various quality products made from Makhana will be made available in the international market besides the country.
• The products will be made in such a way that there is a different identity in the market and people buy it as soon as they see it. Makhana will be supplied in the country and abroad by packaging the district industrial level of livelihood and in addition to the design and testing center, raw material depots will also be established.
• At these centers, skill enhancement of farmers will be done by providing training on quality makhana production with new technology.
• There is also a plan to open food processing industries in Darbhanga and Katihar districts through Processing Industry Jeevika. The surrounding districts of the district will be connected to here and the benefit of other facilities including packaging of Makhana will be given. 500 makhana farmers of these block areas have been added to the producer group.