Chief minister Nitish Kumar today pitted his "smart village" concept against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious smart city programme, saying his project would ensure people no longer have to move to cities.

"I don't know if the smart cities will happen. But the model of villages we have conceptualised under our ' saat nischay (seven resolves)' is surely smarter than what we are hearing about smart cities," Nitish said at the "chetna (awareness)" rally, a part of his Nischay Yatra to Saharsa town in the Kosi belt, around 250km from Patna. ... "We are committed to build all-weather roads and streets up to every household in the villages, connect every home with electricity, toilet facility and piped water under our seven resolves," said Nitish. "Why shall people leave their villages for cities and towns when we make our villages so smart and liveable."

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The chief minister yet again explained how his seven resolves, undertaken ahead of the Assembly elections, had the potential to transform Bihar. "The seven resolves involve making youths educated and employable. We have already begun issuing students' credit card worth Rs 4 lakh to every student aspiring to attain higher education after clearing Plus Two level and paying unemployment allowance worth Rs 1,000 each to students looking for jobs after Plus Two or matriculation," he said. "We are setting up skill development centres at all the district headquarters to impart skill in computers, spoken English and professional conduct."

He also spoke on women's empowerment and how Bihar has set a benchmark for it with reservation to women in panchayat bodies (50 per cent) and government jobs (35 per cent). He suggested women should remain vigilant against liquor. "We have made stringent laws. But your (women) cooperation will pave the way for the success of the liquor ban that has potential to change society," Nitish said.

Like his caveat to youths in Sitamarhi on use of free Wi-fi connectivity at universities and colleges last month, he told students in Saharsa to "use" the facility for downloading knowledge-enhancing material rather than films and cheap entertainment content.