Delhi Can't Run Without Bihar: Nitish Kumar

The migration of labourers from Bihar to other developed states like Punjab and Maharashtra has significantly come down, reflecting the state’s growth story, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Sunday.

“Big farmers and entrepreneurs in Punjab are complaining labour shortage because of decrease in arrival of labourers from Bihar who are getting employment in their native places itself,” he said at a function.

Quoting a survey, Mr. Kumar said the migration of labourers from Bihar to other states has come down almost by 26 per cent because of development work and MNREGA.

He also dismissed suggestions that people of the state were forced to go out for begging.

“It is wrong to say that people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are forced to go outside for begging. They indeed go not only to different parts of the country but also abroad to contribute to their economic growth,” he said addressing a function to mark 100 years of formation of Bihar.

The Chief Minister said the state is writing a new growth story, as a result of which migration of labourers to Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat has come down now.