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Nitish
Kumar may be a nice man, perhaps gentleman
unlike Laluji. However, my views are not based
on any facts. It is through the media reports
about Nitish that I liked. Recently, all his
party men were after the blood of Raghubans
Prasad Singh. Television channel showed footages
of two boys (age 11 years) working in the field
of Raghuraj Singh, the brother of Union rural
development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh
near his Shahpur home under Mahnar in Vaishali (Hajiprur).
However, it was established later that the two
are “regulars in schools” and “had pulled the
log across the field when promised a chance to
appear on television and Rs 20 each.”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071215/asp/nation/story_8668966.asp
Nitish behaved as a real mature person. He
didn’t go with his men. And finally, the truth
came out. Another news report related about his
visiting his senior party man George Fernandes
and requesting him to inaugurate some
development projects in Muzaffarpur. George
Fernandes have gone against Nitish with no
malice and inhibition, as he didn’t back him for
heading the party. These acts are magnanimous.
But then is it good enough for Bihar and its
people?
But then good news came from Tokyo. NMG (Nalanda
Mentor Group) had its second meeting, headed by
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, recently at Tokyo.
By early next year, the blueprint for reviving
the 1197 AD Nalanda University in Bihar — is
expected to be ready. At Tokyo, the NMG decided
that the university would have schools of
Buddhist studies, philosophy and comparative
religions; historical studies; international
relations & peace studies; business management
and development studies; languages and
literature; and ecology and environmental
studies. I had some more ambitious dreams about
this rebirth of Nalanda. It must have also
included institutions of excellence of
technology and sciences at par with MIT. NMG can
invite western countries too to join in this
unique endeavour, or IISc and IITs to pull
together their resources to set up institutions
in the premises. Alternatively, the IIT and IIM
for Bihar, sanctioned by the HRD ministry should
become part of the campus.
Another exciting news report related to sugar
industry that may become the main industry for
Bihar. Reliance Industries, Hindustan Petroleum
Corporation Ltd and India Glycols Ltd have bid
for closed sugar mills in Bihar.
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&autono=308271
The project must move on fast track and the
government must encourage the private companies
to include ethanol, cogeneration as well as some
food-grain based activities in
the state.
But again I appeal to Nitish to concentrate on
the law and order situation that might have
improved by statistics but not in real term and
in the perception of the investors. Kidnapping
and abduction is still rampant. And the menace
of Naxalite has reached the dangerous level. A
recent report in Mail Today was agonizing how it
is now a moneymaking business for small enough
criminals. It requires ruthless handling and
exemplary harsh punishment.
Another report about the central agencies
dropping the rural road building projects due to
Naxalite’s fear is shocking: “The Indian Railway
Construction Company (IRCON) working on many
road projects in Bihar is planning to abandon
the work due to the threat by Naxals. Under the
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Bihar
has a target to connect 9,600 villages involving
a road length of 27,000 km. Out of 38 districts,
IRCON is taking care of eight districts, NHPC
and NPCC will make six each, CPWD four while the
remaining districts are managed by NBCC. Out of
nearly 57 such road projects initiated in the
four districts of Arwal, Gaya, Aurangabad and
Jehanabad, nearly 23 have been abandoned due to
the Naxal menace.”
As much as I understand the Naxalites in Bihar
are misguided unemployed youths from deprived
class. Demands of extortion and ransom money by
the so-called Naxalites and kidnappers are
indications that the movement is not for the
uplift of the deprived class, but it is for
making easy money. It requires tough but humane
handling. Let the state form a small and
effective core group with some social scientists
too to look into the solutions of the problem.
Land reforms, free skill building, adult
education, and value building at school age may
be the basic necessity. I suggest that the
politicians in their meetings including the
Janata Durbars with so-called ‘aam adami’ insist
on people present for sending the children to
schools compulsorily.
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Comments: |
I
could write something more to
express my views positively about
the topic but what Indra has said is
100% fact. - Barnwal V. - Jan. 3,
2008
It
was nice to read the post by Indra.
It reflects what has been happening
inside the state but of-course the
law and order situation as well as
the slow progress rate (for whatever
reason, it may be) is a major
concern. The state administration
really has a long way to go before
the law and order situation can be
in control.
A couple of months back, I had been
to my hometown, Muzaffarpur, after a
long time. Some two years back,
couple of flyover projects had
started and I really don't see any
substantial development in it,
except making the life of residents
more pathetic.. The roads are really
in the worst condition.
All the hopes we get from the
government's plan of action is
really praiseworthy and i think
media should cover them well so that
the people outside Bihar should know
the progress in the state. -
Ashit Kumar, Pune - Jan. 7, 2008 |
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