Patna, Feb. 23: Governor Ram Nath Kovind's speech on Thursday underlined the 10-month total prohibition as a panacea for many ills afflicting the state while highlighting the government's achievements in the past year and setting goals for the new fiscal (2017-18).

Addressing both Houses of the state legislature, Kovind said: "Total prohibition has empowered society. People have become healthy and disciplined. The prohibition's impact is manifesting progress in the state. Murder, loot, dacoity and kidnapping for ransom have gone down by 22 per cent, 18 per cent, 23 per cent and 42 per cent respectively between April 2016 (total prohibition was clamped on April 5, 2016) and January 2017. Domestic violence has diminished remarkably."

Prohibition occupied bigger space in the 17-page governor's speech drafted by the Nitish Kumar-led cabinet. It was dealt in two longish paragraphs. But the chief minister's saat nishchay (seven resolves) - his cardinal electoral promises - were dealt barely in one paragraph. "The benefit of the seven resolves has been percolating down to one and all without differentiation. The government is working to ensure potable water, electricity, toilets, education in skill and self-reliance to youths and women between 2015 and 2020," said the governor, amid thumping of desks in Treasury Benches.

Leader of Opposition in the Council, Sushil Kumar Modi, however, ridiculed the government's claim. "The government has so far not released funds to the panchayats to carry forward the seven resolves. It is setting new priorities while relegating the old one into the background," Sushil said, talking to reporters in his Council chamber.

Kovind dwelt at length on how Bihar gave a strong message for total prohibition through the 12,760km-long human chain 3.02 crore people joined on January 21.

The governor also announced that the state government would pay Rs 11 lakh as compensation to martyrs, hailing from Bihar, in war or war-like situations anywhere in the country. He also said the government would pay Rs 51,000 for the marriage of granddaughters of freedom fighters and reserve two per cent seats for them in government jobs.

Kovind said: "The government has introduced the Right to Service Act to end corruption at the lower-level of bureaucracy and empower people. So far, the government has disposed of 14.92 crore applications received under the Right to Service Act."

Showing how the government was concerned for the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), believed to be the Nitish-led JDU's core base of voters, the governor said: "The government has reserved 21 per cent seats in judicial services for the EBCs against 12 per cent for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 16 per cent for the Scheduled Castes."

-OVERMATTER-

Kovind, in his 70-minute speech, also enumerated steps taken for modernisation of the police force. "The government has built as many as 151 police buildings, which include Banka police lines, Naxal police stations and tourism police stations. The government has also built 559 toilets for women police personnel across police stations and police lines in the state," he said.

The governor said Bihar was ahead in national average in terms of production of paddy, wheat and maize. "The state is estimated to produce 84.9 lakh metric tonnes of rice during 2016-17, which is a record of sorts," he said.

Kovind also enumerated the work being done under the agriculture roadmap, mission human development, skill development mission and industrial promotion scheme. "The government is working relentlessly for the all-round development of the state under its broader vision of nyay ke saath vikas (growth with justice)," he said.