ARA: State industries minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Saturday said Bihar’s first ethanol plant would start functioning in Ara by March next year and create employment opportunities for the locals.
While inaugurating a ‘Samanya Suwidha Kendra’ built at the Bhojpur District Industry Centre with the support of the Union ministry of textiles at a cost of Rs 1 crore, Shahnawaz pointed out, “As many as 645 girls and women have got the latest sewing machines for preparing handicrafts and other items here. More women can join this centre and become self-reliant.”
Impressed with a Bhojpuri painting presented to him on the occasion, the industries minister promised to “provide all possible help to promote the local handicrafts”. He said, “Bhojpuri paintings should be made as popular as Madhubani paintings. Bhojpuri ‘gamchhas’ should also be popularised.”
Meanwhile, a 10-day ‘Khadi Mela and Exhibition’, which has been organized by the Bihar State Khadi and Village Industries Board at Ramna Maidan in Ara, was jointly inaugurated by industries minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, agriculture minister Amrendra Pratap Singh and legislative council’s chairperson Awadhesh Narain Singh on Saturday.
Addressing a crowd after the inauguration of the fair, Shahnawaz said, “My aim is to stop the migration of workers from Bihar by 2025. Consequently, I have requested reputed firms to set up industries in Bihar and promised to provide easy loans to entrepreneurs. I may also visit Canada, America and other countries to bring investors to the state.”