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As it
appears from the media, all the head of states
in India are rushing for the fourth annual
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) conference,
starting Saturday in Hyderabad. The idea is to
present the case of their states- finances,
infrastructure, governance and reforms to 1,200
visiting NRIs to attract a lot of their
investment. Even Bihar after the new change of
government is going whole hog to attract the NRI
or NRB for investing in Bihar.
I don’t know how many of our NRIs are in
business themselves and have accumulated money
sufficient to spare for their home state. I am
sure there must be some. But simultaneously,
going by my gut feeling, there will be very few
who are rich enough and willing enough to make
significant investment that these politicians
are looking for.
What I think if the state government facilitate,
some of the professionals can help the states in
some specific areas. With reference to Bihar and
specifically Patna, some of the professionals,
particularly in US and Western Europe can help
setting up hospitals and medical research
centers of world class that can attract a lot of
foreign medical tourists besides providing
healthcare to local population. Some may be
useful for starting new educational institutes
and other private scientific research institutes
that are quite popular and useful in US. Bihar
has rich traditions of high talent level in all
science subjects.
Some professional in software and BPO sectors
can help in setting up enterprises in Patna.
Patna can come up as a good center for on-line
teaching of mathematics and science subjects,
outsourcing of legal and medical expertise. I
wish new Bihar government allocates specially
developed areas for educational institutes and
research centers at least near cities such as
Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya with all
infrastructures as well as security provisions.
Bihar must assure against the poor perception of
law and order such as abduction and Bengal type
aggressive protests by local people instigated
by politicians. With all educational centers,
emphasis must be inculcating entrepreneurship
among students. All institutes must employ
students only as workforce for all service jobs
so that they learn to appreciate dignity of
labour and earn while studying without creating
any burden for their parents. Institutes must
have some incubators, and knowledge parks, and
BPOs.
Most of the states are to do their homework
right. While state like West Bengal is to sort
out the fear of interference of aggressive
leftist unions, Bihar will have to improve the
quality of English teaching, particularly
spoken, housekeeping, cleanliness image and work
culture of its people.
Perhaps the right step would have been to locate
those rich NRIs who are successful entrepreneurs
first and approach them individually to help
their home state within their means. The chief
minister can have a cell in his office for this
purpose. However, I am eagerly looking for some
NRIs to come forward and help the state. If they
can’t do anything thing big, they can certainly
help in setting up knowledge centers at least in
their own village that some companies such as
ITC through its e-choupal initiative, NGOs such
as one of agricultural scientist Swaminathan,
and other institutions have started for the
rural India. Many individual NRIs will certainly
be rich enough to get a healthcare center or a
good private school for their village.
Perhaps it will be a good idea if the states can
get database of their people whom they wish to
aim at.
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Comments: |
Your
comments are very impressive (I have
seen on www.patnadaily.com). I also
belong to the similar category, I
mean I am looking for these kind of
ideas, how we can work for
development of our state.
If you read my mail sent to the CM,
Bihar on 21st Dec (given below) you
can understand my feelings as well.
I am looking forward to some more
ideas from your side. And believe
me, I am really eager to do
something for my country. So,
request you please do some more
brainstorming and suggest me how can
I participate. I will be thankful to
you for your help.
I believe a kind of revolution is
required in our state, our country
to change our mindset (of common
citizen). We need to understand our
responsibilities for our country; we
are backward as compared to the
developed nations, their citizens
participate in keeping their nations
growing, they help in maintaining
their state. Our political leaders
need to understand their
responsibilities for the growth of
our country. Our government has to
do something special, has to really
implement their plans for
development. As of now, we just
think of ourselves, not for our
nation. We will have to change.
After that only we can take our step
to make our state, our country a
developed one.
Looking for your suggestions/comment
on my thinking. - Alok Srivastwa,
Tokyo - Jan. 7, 2006
From: Alok
Srivastwa
Date: Dec 21, 2005 8:22 PM
Subject: letter for seeking
suggestion for development of Bihar
To: CM Bihar
Dear Nitish-ji,
I would like to discuss with you
regarding the matter of development
of our state, the Bihar.
By profession, I am a software
engineer/Analyst working with an
international investment
organization & residing in Tokyo
since almost last 2 years.
Earlier I had worked with Japan's
fastest growing bank which is fully
supported by Indian IT industry. I
have been seeing here how Indian
helped Japan to grow them faster in
their financial sector by their hard
labour and the technology.
I am keen to do something good for
my country, let me start with my
home place Bihar. I don't have much
money to invest somewhere, but i
think there may exists several other
ways through which a person can do
something for the sake of
development of the state directly
or, indirectly.
I think a kind of revolution is
required to change the mind-set of
we Biharis. I hope it will happen
one day when our Bihar will become
centre of attraction in the world
like other major cities Tokyo, New
York, Toronto, London etc with some
positive Indian values which is
never found anywhere else in the
world.
I am looking for your suggestions
how can i participate in development
of Bihar (while leaving in Tokyo for
next few years).
By the way, many-many
congratulations for winning this
election. We are impressed with your
ongoing planning for development of
Bihar. We hope once again our Bharat
will become "Jag Sirmaur" one day.
Jai hind!!
Regards,
Alok Srivastwa, Tokyo
Very good points presented in very
well manner. You are right that not
many NRIs are in position to open a
business for their homeland. Also
this is a two way process. While a
NRI or NRB will have a soft corner
for India / Bihar it should also be
a profitable and sustainable
business. If today NRIs are
investing in India it is only
because it is a attractive
investment.
While one NRI can not open a large
business many NRIs together can
definitely start some small
businesses. The need is right now
that our Nitish Kumar and leadership
team keep trying hard to make
environment favourable for business
in Bihar. Everything else will
automatically fall in right place. -
Kaushal Das - Jan. 7, 2006 |
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