As part of the 'Changing Bihar Season' program on Aaj Tak, Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha discussed several issues related to state policy, cooperation between Nitish Kumar and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, as well as his work in various departments, including combating illegal mining and land mafias. He also touched upon the topics of farmer identification through the Agri Stack system and administrative processes.
Sinha noted that between 2005 and 2010, the duo of Nitish Kumar and Sushil Kumar Modi conducted a large-scale campaign to free Bihar from 'jungles' and strengthen public trust in the principles of good governance. He emphasized that regardless of whether his party or an allied party was the prime minister, the approach to work remained unchanged.
He added: 'We have worked with Nitish Kumar ji for a long time. The biggest feature of the joint work is that the leaders of the NDA have a desire to encourage good work, and the leadership helps make it even better.'
When asked whether the transition from the post of Minister of Revenue and Land Reforms and Deputy Chief Minister to the Ministry of Agriculture should be seen as taking on more important responsibility for the development of rural areas of Bihar or as a limitation of his powers, Sinha replied that he had previously been responsible for equally important areas such as road construction, mining, and art and culture. He stated that the leadership decides which department to assign to a specific person, and he strives to perform every duty with complete dedication.
Referring to his previous experience in the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Vijay Kumar Sinha spoke about measures taken against illegal mining and overloading in Bihar. He reported that in 2021-22, mining revenue was about 1600 crore rupees, and thanks to his efforts, a system was created that increased this figure to approximately 3592 crore rupees. He also mentioned the introduction of the transit challan system, which helped stop illegal mining and overloading. Action was taken against sand and land mafias. A reward program of 10 thousand rupees was launched to encourage people who report illegal mining and overloading; any YouTuber, young man, or other person sending photos or videos received this amount, which aided monitoring.
Furthermore, Vijay Kumar Sinha talked about the launch of the Farmer ID creation campaign in Bihar in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Agri Stack vision. About 48 lakh Farmer IDs have been created. Work has also been done to register each farmer's land records in the form of a passport to ensure the safety of land-related documents and allow future generations to use them. This will help deliver government benefits, such as fertilizers, seeds, and subsidies, to the intended farmers, reducing the likelihood of illicit gain. The Agriculture Minister stressed that the campaign was not stopped after he took up responsibilities in agriculture; it continues with the aim of reaching over two crore Farmer IDs.
Vijay Sinha stated that restoring the trust of Bihar's farmers is extremely important, and resolving land disputes is crucial for the state's development. When asked what he said about preparing for exams, but when taking the exam, the questions change, he replied that in politics, opportunities change depending on circumstances. He mentioned that in the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, he conducted many campaigns, and now, while working in agriculture, these campaigns continue. Speaking of corruption and honesty, he noted that since childhood, he was taught to first correct oneself before speaking about correcting society. He added: 'We definitely try. We do it honestly, without worrying about the results. Regardless of how much time we are given, we strive so that our eyes do not drop before people.'
Vijay Kumar Sinha also mentioned his work in various departments, including the Department of Art and Culture. He reported that a film policy was introduced to promote film production in Bihar. Under this policy, the government provides grants ranging from 4 to 5 crore rupees, paying special attention to providing opportunities to local talents and artists of Bihar. He asserted that more than two dozen films are being produced in Bihar after the introduction of this policy.
In response to the question about the transfer of officials and the sending of some senior officers on leave, Sinha stated that he does not have complete information on this matter.