The government would create a plan called "Purvodaya" for the comprehensive development of five states, including Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, which is considered essential for the survival of the NDA administration, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's announcement on Tuesday.

‘’The states in the eastern part of the country are rich in endowments and have strong cultural traditions’’, As said by Sitharaman during her budget address.

“We will formulate a plan, Purvodaya, for the all-round development of the eastern region of the country covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh’’, She continued.

The "Purvodaya" plan, according to the finance minister, will address infrastructure, human resource development, and the creation of economic opportunities to position the area as a catalyst for the realization of "Viksit Bharat." Meanwhile, the criteria applied for selecting the five states is still unclear.

Prime Minister Modi stated on Tuesday that “the development of the country's eastern region will get new momentum and energy through the "Purvodaya" plan. New impetus will be given to the development of important infrastructure such as highways, water projects and power projects”. The concept of “Purvodaya” was first announced by the Prime Minister in 2015 after the inauguration of an Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) refinery at Paradip.

The 'Purvodaya' initiative, according to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was launched in the budget with the goal of revitalising the country's eastern area. "This scheme will give new energy to infrastructure, human resources, employment and economic development opportunities in these regions and these regions will play an important role in building a developed and self-reliant India,” he added.

Image source: Sansad TV