Readers Write - PatnaDaily.Com

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step

By Nitesh Ambuj

Mar. 28, 2008

The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.

Let’s continue our effort for a developed Bihar. We know our problems and now it’s time to act. Let’s discuss some steps which can be fruitful. The very first step would be to concentrate on Infrastructure. Let’s make it as per the country’s standard, if not more than that. Golden Quadrilateral Highway is the backbone of the national infrastructure; we need something similar in Bihar as well. We need to connect Patna – Gaya – Muzaffarpur – Bhagalpur – Katihar. These cities represent different corners of the state and a well connected road can make a better transportation.

The second most important issue is the law and order situation. This has been improved in last couple of years but we need lots more improvement. There’s a need of tough action on all anti-social elements. Apart from this, we also need education on development for all prisoners. Let’s bring them back in main stream. Let’s educate them, let’s make them understand the current condition of the state.

The other important issue is the flood problem. We need to talk with Central Government and also with Nepal. We need to address this issue at the highest level. Flood is one of the major problems of Bihar. State looses crores of rupees each year because of this. We need a permanent solution now. Let’s not concentrate on relief operations and try to hit the root of the problem.

Next plan of action should be the promotion of tourism. Beautification of Patna is ON and we need to include other cities in this movement. Let’s make a beautiful Patna, a beautiful Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali and Mithila. Let’s promote hotel industry and let’s promote “Atithi Devo Bhava” culture.

Seek expert’s advice in agriculture sector. Let’s grow more than just rice, wheat and sugarcane. Let’s have another “green revolution”. Let’s make it a fruit/flower revolution this time. There’s no reason why we can’t concentrate on other options in agriculture. These options (fruit/flower) are more fruitful than the traditional crops.

Let’s build a portal for everybody to interact and suggest new and innovative ideas for development. Revenue generated from this portal will be implemented in suggested projects. Let’s contribute to this and start working as soon as possible.

The next step would be to launch a TV channel dedicated to all these development activities. It would also include talent hunt in many areas. For example, Bihar idol (singing), Club cricket in Bihar (organize), Tennis tournament in Bihar, Acting school, Fashion institute and lots more (updated as per the industry’s demand).

Education industry is already in full swing. Let’s make it more organized and systematic. Let’s promote dedicated institutes for preparing IIT / IIM / IAS examinations. Let’s make our presence felt through an organized body, which can attract students from other parts of the country as well (like institutes in Kota do).

In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment. Dreaming about a developed Bihar is good but it’s time to work, work hard, and prove ourselves.

Comments:

Excellent ideas indeed. I would like to add Chhapra-Siwan also in the list of cities to be connected. This area has potential to receive tourists from Mauritius. Apart from roads, the greatest need is to have power availability and sanitation. Private sector can be encouraged to do the Waste Management with some incentives from state. Sanitation is the greatest eyesore to visitors from developed areas. We are lucky to have Rail infrastructure larger than any other country. We need to make it better by having some world class facility at some important stations to start with.

Another important thing is to develop some good housing complexes near important towns so that NRIs and other people from Bihar can think of settling down in their home state instead of going to other cities. This will bring lot of capital into the state create a boom in other areas as well. - Mithilesh Kumar, Delmar, New York, USA - Mar. 30, 2008

Good Ideas Nitesh. Most of them would make sense for any other state in India. In India the process of "Thinking, Planning and executing" is always taking time especially the last one. We do have lots of hurdles towards executing these plans when you have to acquire lands for highway / freeway projects you are going to end up in thousands of civil cases which is dragged for years. The law of land acquisition for government projects is outdated to my knowledge at least more than half a century. Take the example the Tamil Nadu government. They have done a study on 'why government projects take time' and have come up with findings. The first one is this outdated land acquisition law and they are planning to update it.

This kind of thinking is required in order to implement these projects quicker. - Joe Antony - April 1, 2008

Suggestion from my side-

Automation of various processes. It is necessary to make every transaction as well dealing in terms of office work automatically.

Involving less people interaction and most of them would be software driven, for example from the collection of different type of bills to basic office work in government and public offices. Less human interaction remove corruption and better tractability of the utilization of resources.

If we need to ensure that all the above ideas to be implemented well we need to ensure that we need to reduce the corruption which can be achieved by automating the process. It is difficult to eradicate but possible to reduce the corruption.

More number of school and colleges. Education is the key for all development. More number of schools well equipped with the basic facilities and faculties will eradicate the illiteracy at basic levels. Teachers job should be provided with lot of incentive driven by their performance so that young generation should come forward to look for the jobs for teacher and should be motivated enough to teach at villages. More number of school and universities indirectly help in encouraging people to take various course and make themselves independent. - Onkar Nath - Apr. 15, 2008

Discussion on this topic is now closed.