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The
Bihar government is organizing an NRI meet
sometime early next year or so. Non-resident
Indians (NRIs) from the state and presently
residents of the developed countries such as US
and UK are expected to participate in the meet
which intends to repackage Bihar as a favourable
investment destination. And I was amazed when
out of so many of my relatives, my uncle
informed me about it. He still keeps touch with
the state’s politics; perhaps he is more relaxed
and free to do that. My cousin has taken over
the farming work of the village seriously and is
doing fine.
But then how will this meet or conference be
different and bring about some good development
in the state? A major task is to bring Bihar at
par with the developed states of the South. Will
it be like Pravasi Bharatiya Sammellan organized
by the GOI- some awards, some tall talks and
promises and ultimately no result?
The organizers, the Institute of Human
Development, Delhi, and bihartimes.com, a news
portal of Patna with support from Bihar
government, are inviting about 500 NRIs & NRBs.
Bihar is keen to attract foreign investment in
agriculture, health, IT and tourism. I don’t
know how many of the NRBs have the resources to
do that. During my research for deciding the
great sons and daughters of Bihar, I found
mention of only one NRB in wikepedia’s list.
Should not the NRBs let the people of Bihar know
the success stories of the people of Bihari
origin who have achieved great heights in
business or other professions in US, UK, or
other developed countries? Let me assure them
that every Indian gets almost the same pleasure
or perhaps more than one of the family members
of the achiever. Today’s news about the award of
Booker Prize going again to an Indian Kiran
Desai heartened every Indian.
I am giving below two pretty simple ideas. And I
shall like those, who wish to have a discussion
on the subject, participate to make the meet a
success.
1. Will those visiting Bihar at that time, make
it a point to go to their places of origin,
particularly the village, and their schools and
colleges, and talk with the people, particularly
the younger generations and kids in school? If
they happen to contact their professional
college from where they graduated before going
abroad, they must make it a point to go there
and talk about their educational experiences of
Master’s courses in US.
2. If nothing more, can they help in setting up
a website for their village? That will be a big
help and depute someone here as a site
administrator. The young people of the village
can put their CVs (name, phone/cell number for
contact and skill) on the web for job hunt. It
can also talk of any specific produce of the
village that needs marketing.
Let us interact on other areas where these NRBs
can be of help without disturbing their own
career plans.
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Comments: |
Indra ji, thanks a lot for these
innovative advices, but my question
is how can a villager access the
website without electricity? The
villages in Bihar are still living
in dark edges and deprived of
electricity.
The best possible way for the NRBs
to support Bihar is to install huge
SOLAR panels in the schools, mutts
of respective villages, so that
youths can see ray of hopes in the
dark lanes of villages, the students
assemble and study in the hours of
darkness.
Now the question is, from where the
NRBs will find genuine Solar System
in Bihar? I have bitter experience
on it. In my last visit to Bihar, I
purchased Solar Systems from the
only soap in Siwan (Under Darbar
Cinema), but surprised to find out
that "Guarantee check logo" is
tortured and original batteries are
replaced with mal-functional ones.
So far I was fooled on whatever
solar items I purchased. On my next
visit, I plan to enquiry about it in
Bangalore, Gorakhpur, and Patna etc.
Let's hope I may get Genuine Solar
items from somewhere someday. -
Tarakeswar Dubey - Oct. 16, 2006 |
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