Boosting Local Art and Products
On April 23, 2022, the Agriculture Advisory and Rural Development Institute initiated the ‘One Station One Product Scheme’ to promote local art and products in the country. As part of this scheme, passengers at the Barauni Junction and Begusarai Railway Station in Northern Bihar have started getting roasted corn as a local product since March 2024. Regardless of the weather, travelers enjoy roasted corn, and Begusarai Railway Station is famous for its roasted corn, prepared with ingredients like ajwain, mungrela, fennel, and various spices.
Swadeshi Makai Bhunja
Railways have included roasted corn as a local product at all railway stations in Bihar’s Begusarai district. Dilip, a vendor selling one product at one station, mentioned that railway passengers demand roasted corn ranging from 10 to 100 rupees. There are several varieties of corn available, but the roasted corn prepared from locally produced corn in Begusarai, with ingredients like chickpeas, peanuts, green chilies, special masala, is a crowd favorite. According to shopkeepers, they sell roasted corn worth up to 1500 rupees daily.
Advantages of the Scheme
Rajiv Kumar, Secretary of the former Central Railway Passengers’ Association, welcomed this scheme, stating that it will not only increase the sales of local products but also provide recognition and create employment opportunities. However, he highlighted that the Begusarai Railway Station does not have a tea stall, and external vendors cannot sell tea there. Therefore, like other railway stations, the former Central Railway should also set up a tea stall for the convenience of passengers, as tea is a popular choice for everyone.
नीरज कुमार/बेगूसराय के रेलवे स्टेशन पर स्वदेशी मकई का भूंजा आम यात्रियों को मिलने लगा है। इस योजना के तहत बेगूसराय में उत्पादित मकई से अनेक प्रकार के भूंजा तैयार किए जाते हैं। यह योजना स्थानीय प्रोडक्ट की बिक्री को बढ़ावा देने के साथ-साथ पहचान और रोजगार को भी बढ़ाएगी। इसके साथ ही, रेलवे यात्रियों की सुविधा के लिए चाय स्टॉल की मांग भी है।
