Year End but Bihar remains where it was

Seems like Bihar has progressed a lot in the last 6-7 years. People say, it could be possible only because of the incumbent chief minister. He brought a sense of security within people, got so many new educational institutions opened like CNLU, CIMP & IITP, created the much needed infrastructure, opened up the tourism sector to en extent now that Patna's Ganga ghat boasts of a small boat cum restaurant, new malls are being opened, established Right to Service, automated almost all of the state government departments, so, hence, a bright shining light is being bestowed upon Bihar's territory. I don't think people have been wrong anyways. Had they not experienced all this, why would they vote for the incumbent CM & his party with such a huge majority. Even I believe, although haven't visited the state for too long barring a small stint last year, that it is all true. At least, that is what my heart keeps pounding upon me, to accept. But the conflict raised by my mind is no less distressing. Now lets look at some of the facts because of which my mind keeps challenging my heart.

1. Bihar's security environment has improved so much that from the period of 2005 to 2010, there has been a rise of 60% in the kidnappings. Largely, the kidnapped people, mainly children, are being killed mercilessly in the absence of the ransom being paid. You may not want to believe me, hence, request you to look at the Bihar Police's website. Twist to the story comes when even the MLA's & MP's are threatned openly thru mobile messages. One must admit, though, that a lot of big criminals are behind bars but what's worrying is that the crime is still on the streets. Makes one believe that only the location has changed & really nothing else. Key Takeaway: What you see is not always the truth
2. New colleges have been opened like CNLU, CIMP & IITP, with a view to encourage students to take up higher studies within the state itself. AMU is in the offing. This is highly appreciated of the government. But the problem comes when one finds that most of the engineering colleges within the state have absolutely no faculty, be it MIT, Muzzafarpur or BEC, Bhagalpur. This said less, students of the CNLU had to go on a strike to attract the CM's attention on the ground situation where they had lost, almost all hopes to find a campus placement. Nalanda was to start but seldom when finds it ever starting given the current state within which it finds itself today. Key Takeaway: Educational Institutions are not established merely by giving away 100 & 200 acres of land. They are made by much desired learned faculty.
3. Infrastructure is created almost everywhere. Roads have connected the villages. As I had indicated, last year I was in Gopalganj, my home district. To my surprise, the road leading to my village was much better 10 years back, than it is today. Anyways, one instance can't be a benchmark of the overall development. So how has it helped? People now have connectivity, they don't have to face the hardships but till the time it generates any income for them, it is of no use. People from Bihar are still migrating. Power sector wa another focus area of the government. So many new deals were signed with NTPC & others. Eventually result is that the cities & villages are still in the same darkness as they used to be. Reasons could be many for their not functioning properly but that remains as a fact today. Such is IT policy that none, absolutely none of the top Indian IT companies still think to make Patna as their hub. You may also find an interesting fact that Bihar engineers come second only to Delhi when it come to employability of good students in the IT/ITES sector based on survey done by Gurgaon based Aspiring Minds. Even after so much is being done, as claimed by the state government, Bihar Planning Commission advisor, Mr Saxena minces no words when he claims that Bihar has been one of the most laggard states to implement various schemes because of which it has forefeited the central subsidy of almost Rs 10,000 crores annually.  Key Takeaway: More than the paperwork, need is to realize the development on the ground for the benefit of people.
4. Right to Service has been created but still the RTI activists are being killed left-right-center. One may argue why are you linking these two things. Tell me, why shouldn't I? An RTI activist would only be killed if he is unearthing Corruption. Corruption can only happen if a service is not being provided to the people correctly / rightly / transparently. Key Takeaway: Point was not to create a law to enforce the executives to service the people. Idea should have been to implement the existing plans effectively. It's part of anyone's job to, at least, do his job. I mean that's why one gets paid, right.

So bright light is really being bestowed upon Bihar but the biggest of all is that Bihar's media sees this light more than anyone else. They see it so much, generally in the dark though, that they leave no stone unturned to write the growing development story of Bihar in their papers, news channels, magazines, almost every day. Issue is they are also made to see this light because if they don't see it, they may not be able to get their salaries from their patrons who are running the channels & the new papers, why? well, for that you will need to read thru the government's expenditure on ads that it runs on various news papers & media channels -:).
So towards the year end, Bihar has grown leaps & bounds & if the story continues the same way, day is not far when Nitish will repeat a Lalu saga with shining Bihar.

Published in Patnadaily.com: http://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/opinions/readers-write/6781-year-ends-but-bihar-remains-where-it-was.html

Jai Bihar