Need for Temples of Learning in Bihar

by Manish Kumar
Chennai, India

June 22, 2006

For a change, let us look at the bright side of Bihar and Biharis:

1. It has a strong political clout in the national affairs with 40 members in the lower house and a large presence in the council of ministers.

2. Of the 700 students who qualified for IAS and IPS in the last 10 years, 25 per cent belonged to Bihar. According to a recent estimate, every district of the nation will be having either DM or SP as Bihari. Biharis are backbone of administration of the nation. The trend continues. Also, in recent years, large numbers of students from Bihar have been topping entrance tests conducted by Indian Institutes of Technology, IIM’s, NIT’s, CBSE medical etc. Talents of Bihar are going to different parts of the country and abroad to do research, higher studies etc.

3. The Patna model of taxation has earned much acclaim from United Nation (UN) and is now being copied by many countries. The states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh have now adopted the Patna Tax system that helps simplify an otherwise cryptic and cumbersome tax structure.

4. The Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd, founded in 1983, is Bihar's own cash cow. Its Sudha milk and milk products is already the flavor of the state. Now it is extending its reach to other neighboring states.

5. The state is self-dependent in grain production and is supplying rice to nearly some 13 states in the country. Begusarai district of Bihar is number one in maize production.

6. Bihar is ahead of many states in per capita deposits, getting Rs 7,000 crore annually.

7. NO one can defy that, Biharis are hardworking, intelligent, and sincere.

8. Bihar is a place of opportunity in terms of tourism, medical care, private investment, foreign and NRI investment, irrigation, infrastructure development, power sector, industrial sector and most importantly development of educational institutions that is the central theme of this article.

9. The infant mortality rate is 62 per 1000, which is below the national average of 66 per 1000. Even in terms of life expectancy, the average Bihari male lives a year longer (63.6 yrs.) than the average Indian male (62.4 yrs) and the state’s performance in increasing life spans has been better than most during the past three years. Bihar has 7.04 mn. Hectares under agriculture and its yield of 1679 kgs. per hectare, while less than the national average of 1739 kgs. per hectare is better than that of six other states, which include some big agricultural states like Karnataka and Maharashtra. Its per capita spending at Rs.484.10 on Education is as good as the best. AP spends Rs.493.90 and the national average is Rs. 586.80

Bihar has suffered a devastating loss of jobs, plight of central funds etc in the past few years. In addition, our state is burdened by high unemployment and lack of funds for good schools, universities, research institutions and 21st century technology and communications. Bihar is India’s poorest and most backward state is undeniable. The facts speak for themselves. Bihar is not only the worst off of all Indian states, but also the gap between it and the rest is widening. But there is another reality as well, that is, India cannot progress without Bihar’s advancement. It is much too big to be left behind. Thus, the development of Bihar is integral to India’s development. India cannot go forward leaving Bihar behind. If India intends to grow at 10 per cent of GDP over the next few years, then Bihar is at present so behind that it needs to grow at 15 per cent to catch up with the rest of India.

Our state is lagging behind in many areas and we must find new answers to meet the challenges of educating and training our people in new directions. I believe, strengthening our education system is the answer, from pre-school through our colleges, universities, and research institutions. Education is a basic right to which all children are entitled in the Bihar and India. There is a good reason for this: More than anything else, a solid education is the ticket to a better quality of life, including good jobs that pay decent wages and offer opportunities for advancement. And the benefits of education are more important today than they have ever been. Good academic institutions do not just lift educational standards of a state but also lift its morale, and lend it a status and an image that are imperative for the growth of a community. Providing this education to every young one’s will go a long way toward fulfilling Bihar and India’s promise of equal opportunity for all. More education means more choices in work and in life. (Contd. to next page)

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