This is very unfortunate but not surprising that Bihar has again missed the train.

Govt of Bihar is just happy because they get IIT and a Central university. Govt of Bihar has established Chandragupta institute of management about which they popularised that this is an institute of IIM kind.

This is very bad that Bihar Govt doesn't perhaps make efforts to demand for IIM in Bihar. Many officers may be happy about Chandragupta Institute of Management but this is not sufficient.

The same thing is happening with IISER which we were demanding since the announcement of the IISER by Central govt and also submitted report to govt.

Because of our effort, Now Bihar govt is also with us in campaigning for getting IISER. But perhaps not much effort has been taken except once Our Hon'ble CM wrote letter to Hon'ble PM about demanding IISER for Bihar.

This is the exact time for Bihar to get all these institutes as the present govt. in Bihar is serious about development. In addition, we have Sri Fatami jee from Bihar in central ministry (MHRD). Lalu jee is also at good position in cabinet. But it seems they even don't know much about IISER and importance of this institute for Bihar.

Now the time has come leaders of Bihar should come on one front on the issue of the development of the state. They should forget their political enmity. First develop the state and then take credit of it.

I hope, "Der Ayenge par Durust Ayenge". - Bibhuti Bikramaditya, Seoul, S Korea - Mar. 30, 2008

Reason for raising this issue by me in this public forum is just to create a general awareness. Being an avid follower of happenings back home in Bihar, I can make out that even the higher echelons of state bureaucracy are not aware about what is cooking up at the central administration level and its long term impact on the state. Readings in vernacular press indicates that people and academicians in state are even not aware that "World Class Central University" is to be Different than " Central University" Former is patterned on JNU ( with addition of institute of Medical Education and Engineering Education) where as the latter is on the line of DU. Bihar is slated to get both. However, reading of the statement of state academicians implies that Bihar should give up on JNU type and should go for DU type for Patna University, as they don't realise that state is slated to get both. In fact they are only worried about the salary and perk they will enjoy if PU becomes a central university. Responsible officials of State HRD has been no better in this regard either and will end up compromising the states interest. Though this information lies buried in Planning Commission document, National Knowledge Commission document, Prime Minister's speeches and even in the press releases of MHRD, no body has bothered to read the same. One more reason why we need an IIM, IISER to act as think tank for the states need.

Also, to my utter dismay, I find that even the most responsible of the policy makers in the federal government are plagued by a mentality of protecting and promoting the regional interest with which they closely identify. People who understand the full importance vie to take these institutions to their respective state. Why else TN and WB MPs had to exchange fisticuffs in Parliament over a mere location of marine university?

A good institutional infrastructure is a prerequisite for economic generation and it is second only to basic infrastructure. For example, if Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is located at Kerala, I wonder how many people from Bihar will be able to make a career in the space sciences in such a scenario. I'm not sure if a company would ever like to set up a space related industry even at Delhi, if all the professionals are to be found at Kerala.

Coming to the issue raised in one of the comments, Bihar needs to have an equal number of institutions as any other major state, if not more. Out of over 600 odd academic research and specialized education institutions, Bihar has got less than 10 (to be precise 4 out of over 632 covering S&T, DAE, CSIR, DBT, ISRO, DRDO, ICAR, ICMR, MHRD, DIT among other ministries). Most major states have over 35 such institutions and the largest number is at Delhi at 90. These institutions does not cost a dime to state governments. Instead they create a multiplier effect on local economy. If Bihar is loosing out on an IIM, IISER, IIIT it is loosing a lot directly or indirectly.

Gross budgetary support of these institutions now exceeds over 20,000 crores. A simplistic explanation will imply that state does not have any meaningful share in this kind of capital/revenue infusion. If central government passes to Bihar an amount of over 8%, then I would have felt less exercised about this matter.

Another generalist explanation can be that having more such Institution in any way does not prevent Bihar government from being generous with a few of these institutions as suggested. After all the support required from state government for setting up more of these institutions, at most, is limited to providing free land. State has enough land at its disposal going by the Bhoodan surplus, which it can intelligently exchange wherever people are likely to get affected.

It is all about being more competitive than others. Bihar will have to better other states in this regard. It cannot match other bigger states resources. However, It can definitely aim to utilize its resources better and at the same time try and extract more resources from the center as compared to other states. It is about extracting more resources where state has been failing since independence, and that is perhaps one of the cause why state has come to such a sorry pass. People should not mistake symptoms for the cause of prevailing ills. - D N Mishra - Mar. 30, 2008

Discussion on this topic is now closed.