'Time to pursue long term measures for development'

PAT, March 12: Prime Minister rendra Modi on Saturday called for a paradigm shift in developmental work in the country, adding that these cannot be kept confined to taking “short term” steps only.

He also stressed on greater cooperation between the states and the centre.

“There has to be a change in developmental initiatives. While there is a need to take short term steps to help people or their urgent needs, time has come for pursuing long term measures,” the Prime Minister told a public rally at Hajipur.

“We can achieve this only by cooperation between states and the Centre,” he said, adding that for India’s sustaible development, it is important for India’s eastern parts and states like Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and the north eastern states to develop.

“But the development of India is linked to development of eastern India and development of Bihar will be crucial for the uplift of eastern parts of our country,” he said. “Therefore if we have to change the fate of India’s development then the fate of Bihar has to change.”

With this in mind, for railway infrastructure in Bihar his government has spent more than double the sum in the last one-and-a-half years than what was spent by the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance regime, Modi said. (IANS)