Sunday, March 16, 2008

Attack On Bihar

After recent attacks on biharis, uttarpradesh and north indians by goodns of Raj Thakrey there has been a sense of discomfort across India. Some of us are very upset and some want to revenge while most have offered to display Gandhigir. In this context our take is that we need not be aggressive but yes we must defend our brothers/sisters by all means. I would say that we should be "assertive". We should not be hesitant to celebrate our festivals like "chath" at all. At the same time we should make all efforts to mix up / assimilate local culture and festivals as well. Guess most progressive people and we Biharis do as well,

As far as, Raj Thakrey and goons are concerned, they are best ignored and "defended against". This whole series of incidents against biharis is giving rise to emergence of bihari subnationalism. Which is much needed. However do not expect most of the well educated and well placed Biharis to speak-up or stand-up and be counted.

Most of them will just prefer to watch silently over TV or read newspapers and analyse for few weeks and then move on to their routine life. Some of the political kind will try to get some mileage out of it (this side or that side but their end goal is to benefit) . Those whose bread and butter is affected or those whose life and honor is being threatened will either react in self-defence or migrate to safer places. However some, especially the young students will see this as a wake-up call and they will react by their heart. We need to make sure that the reaction is on right track. We don't resort to the level of "goondas" on road. We must prepare to defend and support our people and at the same time, wake-up to the reality that there is no place like home. We must try to give our best to our current place (Maharashtra or Delhi or US) but at the same time should also retain our connections with the homeland and continue to give back to our parent society(bihar, jharkhand or india).

For almost 2 months i have been hopping from city to city (Patna, Munger, Rajgir, Nalanda, Tilaiya, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Delhi). If the socio-economic-political trends as observed by a non-expert are to go by then we are already on the path of socio-economic renaissiance. The dark days are over. Bihar is going through a churn and transformation that will really shake up the world. In the few weeks that I was in Patna, there were some or other othe trade-expo, seminar, socio-economic event going on. Patna's calendar was very busy and so was rest of bihar. National/International level sports events and positive events going on.

We truly are living in very very interesting times and the outlook is very positive. These attacks on Biharis are sad but hopefully yet another incident reflecting the "awakening" of bihari subnationalism. As long as we were willing to build the roads, work as maids and servants or IT/Management Coolies then the local "netas" were okay with us. However as soon as we started displaying some solidarity and display of our cultural heritage then the world has problems. Very soon the IT and Management "coolies" amongst us will also start showing their Bihari Identity without any disrespect for the local identity, the world will start respecting us. The display of strength of IMA (Indian Medical Association) was one good example. Many more such "skirmishes" will take place but in the end, we will emerge stronger.

Bihar is the most promising market for talent, mobile, pharma, tourism, agribusiness, innovation and many other industries. Smart money of Sunil Mittal, Ambani, Tata, Mahindra and others are already benefiting from the "market". Bihar-jharkhand is world's fastest growing mobile market, but soon they will start jumping in many other sectors as well


To sum it up,
a) Let us remain assertive and not be aggressive. Losers like Thakrey will lose steam soon.
b) Let us see the big picture and remain focussed on rebuilding Bihar2.0 and giving our best to India and world
c) Bihar is an opportunity for the smart brains to see and insecure societies/people to feel threatened
d) Let us remain connected to our roots
e) In whichever society we go we need to have strong local networks so that we remain safe.

Written by Ajit Chouhan

Innovation in Bihar's Agricultural Sector

Bihar's economy is primarily agriculture based and it’s encouraging to see the innovative practices which farmers in Bihar have been adopting over the year to generate various sources of revenue. Traditionally our fertile land has been the major source of revenue and livelihood for the agrarian society in the villages. However over the years floods have become a perennial cause of concern and in view of the nature’s fury new means to generate alternate streams of revenue from the agro based industries has gained momentum.

Take the example of Mr. Shanker Kishore Chaudhary, a progressive small scale farmer of Vaishali district,Bihar, who cultivates elephant foot yam (commonly called as Ool in North India) in his three-acre field. Without stopping with just growing the tuber crop, he has also taken up value added products by creating 33 different varieties of recipes from it such as sweets, pickle, mouth-freshner, and brewing powders similar to the tea.

Elephant foot yam is a tuber crop commonly used as a vegetable and for preparation of pickles and sauce. The tuber is commonly called as Jimikand or Ool in North India, Sooran in Gujarat and Maharashtra, Kand in Andhra Pradesh, Karnai Kilangu in Tamil Nadu and Suwarnagatti in Karnataka, it is cultivated all over the country.



“This value addition has increased the marketability and has demonstrated immense product potentials of this tuber,” said R. Ramadhar, Chairman, Bihar State Farmers Commission, Patna. Mr. Chaudhary grows the crop in his field and also takes the lands of other farmers on rent for raising the crop.“I normally harvest 50-60 tonnes from a hectare of land and earn a gross income of Rs. 2 lakhs in about 10 months.

A number of farmers in the state have adopted Ool farming as a means to supplement their income. Mr. Choudhary provides marketing support to the other yam farmers at a margin of 5 -10 per cent through contract farming. “Besides the contract agreements between Mr. Choudhary and the farmers, there are individual farmers who have taken up Ool cultivation and sell the products to local traders,” said Mr. Ramadhar.

For more information readers can contact Mr. Ramadhar, Chairman, Bihar State Farmers Commission, Pant Bhawan, 1st Floor, Bailey Road, Patna- 800001, e-mail: ramadhar@vsnl.com and kisanayog@gmail.com, phone:0612-2206169 and 2232847



Written by Ajit Chouhan.

Innovation in Bihar's Agricultural Sector

Bihar's economy is primarily agriculture based and it’s encouraging to see the innovative practices which farmers in Bihar have been adopting over the year to generate various sources of revenue. Traditionally our fertile land has been the major source of revenue and livelihood for the agrarian society in the villages. However over the years floods have become a perennial cause of concern and in view of the nature’s fury new means to generate alternate streams of revenue from the agro based industries has gained momentum.

Take the example of Mr. Shanker Kishore Chaudhary, a progressive small scale farmer of Vaishali district,Bihar, who cultivates elephant foot yam (commonly called as Ool in North India) in his three-acre field. Without stopping with just growing the tuber crop, he has also taken up value added products by creating 33 different varieties of recipes from it such as sweets, pickle, mouth-freshner, and brewing powders similar to the tea.

Elephant foot yam is a tuber crop commonly used as a vegetable and for preparation of pickles and sauce. The tuber is commonly called as Jimikand or Ool in North India, Sooran in Gujarat and Maharashtra, Kand in Andhra Pradesh, Karnai Kilangu in Tamil Nadu and Suwarnagatti in Karnataka, it is cultivated all over the country.



“This value addition has increased the marketability and has demonstrated immense product potentials of this tuber,” said R. Ramadhar, Chairman, Bihar State Farmers Commission, Patna. Mr. Chaudhary grows the crop in his field and also takes the lands of other farmers on rent for raising the crop.“I normally harvest 50-60 tonnes from a hectare of land and earn a gross income of Rs. 2 lakhs in about 10 months.

A number of farmers in the state have adopted Ool farming as a means to supplement their income. Mr. Choudhary provides marketing support to the other yam farmers at a margin of 5 -10 per cent through contract farming. “Besides the contract agreements between Mr. Choudhary and the farmers, there are individual farmers who have taken up Ool cultivation and sell the products to local traders,” said Mr. Ramadhar.

For more information readers can contact Mr. Ramadhar, Chairman, Bihar State Farmers Commission, Pant Bhawan, 1st Floor, Bailey Road, Patna- 800001, e-mail: ramadhar@vsnl.com and kisanayog@gmail.com, phone:0612-2206169 and 2232847



Written by Ajit Chouhan.

A major breakthrough in research by Scinetist in BIHAR

A woman’s extraordinary zeal to fight AIDS

Bochha (Bihar), March 16 (IANS) Ragini Devi, a Bihar villager, was once selected as an “Asadharan Mahila”, or extraordinary woman, for helping empower women. Rightly so, since she seems to have a fire in her belly as she takes on the task of spreading awareness about AIDS. Hailing from Balthi Rasoolpur village in Muzaffarpur district, about 70 km from Patna, she was chosen for the honour in 2006 for her pathbreaking move to take up vegetable cultivation and inspire hundreds of women to take it up as a means of livelihood.

The New Delhi-based Grassroots magazine called Ragini, who comes from a social and economically marginalized background, “India’s first Asadharan Mahila”.

She also hit the headlines two years ago when she inaugurated an international woman’s conference along with the then Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in New Delhi. It was a rare opportunity for a woman from her background.

But not ready to sit on past laurels, she has begun a sustained effort to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS in the rural hinterland of Bihar. Being a counsellor, Devi is busy spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS in villages.

“I am doing it as voluntary work to make a difference” she said.

“Till date the response is more than expected. People, mostly village women, show keen interest in learning about AIDS and its prevention measures. But the fact remains that there are deep-rooted myths and stigma attached to the disease,” she said.

According to official statistics, 12,000 people among Bihar’s over 83 million population are infected with the virus, but AIDS campaigners claim these figures are under-reported. Unofficial figures put the HIV/AIDS population of Bihar at 40,000. They are among India’s 2.5 million people who suffer from the disease.

Ragini Devi recalled that initially women were reluctant to discuss and talk about HIV/AIDS due to widespread misinformation related to the disease.

“It took a few days to convince and motivate them to gather in front of my thatched house to join the campaign against HIV/AIDS,” she said.

She admitted that it was not an easy task. “I began my campaign against HIV/AIDS last year with the help of hand-written placards and short lectures in the local Hindi dialect,” Ragini Devi said.

She decided to create awareness about prevention measures to minimize the chance of HIV/AIDS and to fight against misconception.

Ragini Devi’s initiative to campaign against HIV/AIDS is seen here as a right step in rural Bihar.

Health officials associated with the Bihar State AIDS Control Society said that in rural Bihar, migrant workers are considered the main carrier of HIV/AIDS virus because they got infected during their stay outside to earn a livelihood.

During her previous effort for women’s empowerment through vegetable cultivation, she had inspired dozens to earn their livelihood through her initiative.

Ragini Devi’s move to take up vegetable cultivation made her a household name in Bochhan block.

“Thanks to her, vegetables which were cultivated on a small scale a few years ago, are now sent to different places across India and exported too,” villagers said.

http://www.thaindian.com/

Bihar government effects major administrative reshuffle

Patna, March 16 (IANS) In a major administrative reshuffle, the Bihar government has transferred as many as 67 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials, including 29 district magistrates, official sources said here Sunday. “The decision to transfer 67 IAS officials was taken late Saturday night by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,” a source in the state personnel department said.

The source said that district magistrate of Nalanda, home district of Nitish Kumar, has also been transferred.

The chief minister was reportedly unhappy over the way the district administration handling of the of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to the site of the proposed Nalanda International University. Nitish Kumar accompanied Kalam on that visit to the district.

Bihar seeks World Bank funds for rural roads

Patna, March 16 (IANS) The government has sought funds from the World Bank to build all weather rural roads to provide connectivity to villages in the five districts of south Bihar where Maoists are active. “The government has sought loans from the World Bank. We are optimistic,” Rural Development Minister Narendra Narain Yadav said Sunday.

Yadav said the districts where the roads will come up are Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad and Patna.

“The government plans to construct 351 km of rural roads at an estimated cost of Rs.1.44 billion,” said Yadav.

In the last few years, whenever the government attempted to build rural roads, Maoist guerrillas created trouble and targeted officials, contractors and workers engaged in the task.

The fear of Maoists has put a stop to road construction in many rural areas.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

The Tombs of Murshidabad



It takes five and a half hours to reach Murshidabad from Kolkata.

The town was built in 1704 by Murshid Quli Khan, the governor of the province of Bengal. In 1716 he rescinded his allegiance to Delhi and became the first independent Nawab of 'Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.' He moved the capital from Dhaka to the township he had founded on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi river, until the British later moved it to Calcutta.

As the train pulled into the station at 4:00 in the morning, my first impression was of a town forgotten by time. After the seminar in Kolkta ended, a surprised colleague had asked: “Why, what's happening in Murshidabad?”

These days 'something' (conferences, workshops) has to happen for academics to venture anywhere, I guess! I replied “Oh, just taking a trip to see some tombs, I guess.”

No, I was not hoping to arrive at some startling historical truth. 1757 was the year Siraj ud Daula's and Clive's armies confronted each other at Plassey, 40 kilometres south of Murshidabad. But the motives and actions of the major actors in that drama are shrouded in ambivalence. Historians have torn each other's tomes apart in efforts to 'arrive at the truth' about 1757. Though I had no such high intentions, I was at least sanguine that the one-dimensional historical accounts would come alive somehow. And who knows, in an inspired moment during the tour, perhaps a part of the fog might lift.

Dr. Keka Duttaroy, who accompanied me, might have had other reasons for going though she didn't elaborate. She had taught at Berhampore, the district headquarters of Murshidabad, and was keen to see the place again - where her cherished child, now departed, had grown up. My late father often spoke of Murshidabad during the post dinner conversations we used to have when I was growing up. He would invoke scenes from literature and history. He spoke of Murshidabad's past, its silks and river. Of the play he had seen as a young man in Calcutta; about all that took place at Plassey one summer day hundreds of years ago. It had all blended into one collage - my father's retelling of history, his youth, my childhood, my university days spent studying history…

The guesthouse was clean and comfortable. By 10 a.m. we were up and ready for the day's outing. The driver of the hired Maruti was a young man named Shahid. The first stop was the Jahankosha Cannon. This artillery piece was built by a craftsman from Dacca -- one Janamardan Karmakar. More than the cannon itself, I was struck by the setting. A picture-book bamboo grove swaying in the breeze, a few thatch huts, and a boy playing. Here we caught the first glimpse the Mughal army, of an aggressive, martial race thrashing their way eastward in a bid for land, loot, empire. They had come to colonize the grain-rich, quietly rolling countryside of Subah Bangala and turn it into a wealthy outpost of empire.

As the Maruti drove to Katra Mosque and seminary I tried to talk with Shahid, but conversation with tourists wasn't his strong point. In front of the mosque, a path led through a garden to a flight of stone steps under which Murshid Quli Khan lies buried. The portal was flanked by two tall watch-towers which point to the feudal character of the age - watchful, alert, and belligerent. But this is off set by the serenity which the precincts possess. The guide explained that the Nawab interred there, none other than the founder of the city, had wished to be buried alive and trampled on by countless ages! Later we heard a similar tale where the fair Azizunnessa lies buried at another mosque. (Azizunnessa, the guidebook said, was engaged in illicit liaisons and was, to boot, fond of human flesh). My! Lust and cannibalism, if these stories were to be believed! A logical part in my brain, however, whispered, “Brutal as the age was, who in his/her right mind would wish to be buried alive?” Moreover, self- annihilation went against the scriptures; and the ruling race was careful to observe the niceties of religion.

After lunch we reached Jafraganj - territory of the Mir Jafar clan. The palace, which later served as the Circuit House for notables such as Warren Hastings and John Shore, is now in ruins. Keka informed us that years ago the entire cemetery was overgrown with brambles and inhabited by snakes. Now the cemetery was well tended and accessible, with a little ticket counter under the archway to the graveyard. The archway was constructed in the manner of a 'nahbatkhana' -- the customary seat atop the gateway for royal musicians. Over a cemetery it makes one think of a musical portal to the mansions of the dead.

We went in where the most famous traitor in Indian history lies buried. By conspiring with the British and refusing to battle that fateful June day at Plassey, Mir Jafar, Siraj ud Daula's treacherous uncle, earned his pitiable place in history.

The fine-boned young man who acted as guide pointed to a set of tombs within an enclosure. These were the Begums -- observing purdah beyond death. One particular tomb stood out. It was that of Mir Jafar's wife Munni Begum, famous for her beauty, intelligence, philanthropy and gracious living. So, I mused, life must have gone on in the nawab's palace after Siraj's brutal murder. It must have been business as usual in this city of intrigue and death. The goras kept the nawab and his family in relative splendour while they slowly strengthened their hold on state power. The Jafars were spared the ignominy meted out to the last Mughal emperor - his widow was laid to rest in style.

“And here we are,” the guide was saying, “the grave of Mir Jafar.”

Simple and unadorned - next to a row of other graves - one could not tell by looking at it that this was the resting place of one of the most despised characters in Indian history The man whose name would, as the eponymous Siraj proclaims in the play, “become a synonym for the word traitor wherever betrayal takes place.”

I don't know if the historical Siraj ud Daula ever said this but playwright Sachin Sengupta's prediction certainly came true.

We know Mir's days on the masnad were short lived. His successor Mir Quasem realized that the British motives were sinister and tried, in vain, to undo what his forebear had done. Did Mir Jafar also try to atone towards the end? Like the Pink Floyd song:

Dark stranger, what drove you to this?
Did you exchange a walk over part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

The silent grave threw up no answer.

The face that gazes out from the painting of Mir Jafar is that of an experienced man -bearded, obese, composed. A man given to the pursuit of power (or in happier times, food). In his portrait Siraj, a bare youth of 25, is clean shaven and wide-eyed. Both faces are sideways, following painting conventions of the time, looking at some point in the horizon.

And so to Siraj, who reposes quietly on the other bank of the Bhagirathi.

But before that we had to make a choice. If we went to Hazar Duari (Palace of a thousand doors) the residence of the post-Plassey nawabs, we might have to forego Khoshbagh, the cemetery of Siraj and his kin. Years ago Keka had been dissuaded from going there by talk of it being a 'den of riff raff and opium addicts - no place for a lady'. So after walking up to the palace entrance, tempting as it was, we retraced our steps.

“There would not be much left of the day if we went in,” I explained to a surprised Shahid.

“And we'd rather go to Khoshbag than the palace of collaborators,” Keka finished smartly.

We chose a forlorn village ferry to cross over to the other side. The river Bhagirathi has a quality best described by the Sanskrit word 'sreemoy' -- possessed of grace. It is a gently flowing river that wound its way through golden mustard fields, its waters the “translucent colour of crows' eyes.” From the wharf we got onto a rickshaw. Khoshbagh (Garden of Peace) is nestled amidst slightly undulating ground, sprinkled by winsome trees -- the secluded cemetery reminded me incongruously of a miniature English garden. Nothing could be further from a den of riff raff, not that I would have minded.

A guide named Hari agreed to accompany us. We stepped inside the complex where the last 'independent nawab' lies buried.

Siraj ud Daula ( 1733-57) is variously made out to be 'a martyr and monster of iniquity'; a lecher and a saint; a patriot and a fortune seeker; a fool and a strategist - one may take one's pick. In all fairness, both Siraj and Mir Jafar were acting out the scripts dictated by their circumstance and time. After the vilification and hype are laid aside, we have a nawab who knew not the people he ruled over. He belonged to the Mughal elite whose pressing need was to fill Delhi's imperial coffers. It is said that when the Battle of Plassey took place, the common folk looked on from a distance, and went about their daily tasks. To them it was nothing more than a contest between the nawab and the goras.

True, Siraj never spoke Bengali, contrary to the image of the nationalist icon; he never donned 'native attire.' Yet he could have gone the way of the others - how much easier that would have been. Instead he chose to resist. So when we needed a hero we found one.

The cemetery is laid out in three sections. In the first were interred Sharifunnesa, Alivardi's wife,;Amina Begum, Siraj's mother, and Ghasiti Begum, his aunt. Destiny had brought together in death Siraj and his aunt Ghasiti Begum -- the woman who had plotted her nephew's downfall. The second enclosure contains the grave of Siraj's noble lieutenant, Ghulam Hussain famous for his loyalty along with Mohanlal and Mir Madan. Mohanlal would have been cremated and Mir Madan lies buried elsewhere. Here also lie the faithful body guards -- Abdul Hussain and Sabdul Hussain. Through another twist of fate, Danesh fakir - the man who identified a disguised Siraj to the enemy - lies a few yards away. The hazy pictures gleaned from books were beginning to fall into place.

We stepped into the last enclosure. Here lie Alivardi Khan, Siraj's three-year-old daughter Ummatul Zohra, and wife Lutfunessa, Aleya ( Mohanlal's sister), and in a further twist, Shaukat Jang, whom Siraj himself had slain.

I was trying to sort out the complicated order of relationships, betrayals, and alliances when Hari stopped in front of the only grave with an inscription (in Arabic).

“Here lies the great man himself,”he whispered.

Something in his tone made me look up. Hari -- quiet in demeanour, not a university graduate - knew his history in a way many of us never will. Whatever interpretations the books offer, Hari must have imbibed the verdict of two eminent scholars (to quote Banglapedia): “He (Siraj) was the only one of the principal actors who did not attempt to deceive.”

I too could not think of a better epitaph.

As we rickshaw-ed back down the deserted road the pungent scent of mustard blooms reached our nostrils; a lone bird chirped in a grove nearby. We started humming a timeless melody in a language none of those lying quietly in their tombs would have understood well:

Dhono dhanyo pushpe bhora
Amader ei basundhara
Tahar majhe ache deshek shokol desher shera

Somehow, 250 years later, with all the actors long gone, it seemed a fitting song.

Sonia Amin is professor of History, Dhaka University.

Source :http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=26573

CM serious about Marine drive

PATNA: A marine drive along river Ganga is likely to come up in all likelihood as the state government has been holding discussions at the highest level in this regard.

CM Nitish Kumar has already spoken to the authorities in the road construction and urban development departments in this regard.

Nitish said on Friday, "We are still considering issues like huge funds needed for the project. It could be a public-private partnership venture or any other mode."

The government has initiated steps to appoint a consultant and is also analysing the cost benefit factor. "Some people might laugh at the idea and crack jokes but that will not deter us from our plans," Nitish said, adding, "For big things, one needs to think big."

The main consideration behind this idea is the rising population of Patna, shrinking roads and congested traffic. Nitish said some flyovers will also be constructed to ease the traffic. "Marine drive is my dream and if it takes shape, I will be too happy," he remarked.

Earlier, Nitish and road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav watched a video presentation on the achievement of the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam scripted by its chairman Pratyaya Amrit.

Mall, Multiplex, Amusement Park Coming to Patna

The Bihar State Housing Board on Friday signed a memorandum of understand (MoU) with the Infrastructure Leasing and Financing Services (ILFS) to develop an ultra-modern township, a shopping mall, a multiplex, and an amusement park in Kankarbagh area, officials said.

The agreement, signed by the ILFS Managing Director D. K. Mittal and Housing Board secretary K. K. Choubey, would allow developments based on Public Private Partnership (PPP) on 10 acres of land in Patna and 17 acres of land in Gaya owned by the Housing Board, they said.

Bihar Urban Development Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, at a press conference in Patna on Friday, said a shopping mall on a 1.1 acre land near the TV tower would be built while near the Doctors' Colony, an amusement park would be constructed on a 7-acre spread of land.

To further give Patna the shape of a true metropolitan city, a multiplex would be built on a 1.64 acre land near Bahadurpur in Kankarbagh, Choubey said.

Furthermore, a new modern township would be developed near Anugrah Nagar in Gaya, the Minister said adding all these projects are expected to be completed before December 2010.

English makes inroads in Bihar villages

David Crystal of the Cambridge Encyclopedia recently said Indian English is set to rule as more people speak the language in India than in the English-speaking world. Surprisingly, Bihar promises to be a trend setter.

In an open-air school in Vaishali, songs help kids unravel the mysteries of Pythagoras and master the nuances of the Queen's language

''My mummy and papa are very happy. I'm also happy to learn English,'' said Priyanka Preeti, Class VIII student

''We won't lag behind anyone by learning English. We'll march forward and prosper as learning English is fun,'' said Kanchan, Class VII student.

The central government's Annual Status of Education Report says that school students in Bihar are now better in English and Mathematics than anywhere else in the country.

This has been possible because of an overhaul of the education system and special emphasis on Mathematics and English, as they are seen as important success tools in today's world.

Last year in Bihar, over two lakh teachers were appointed. Student enrolment in schools is up 10 per cent. It is over 80 per cent now.

''I am not educated but my grandchildren are learning. They are progressing and learning English too. They'll earn a name in the world,'' said Dineshwar Singh, an elder in village.

Adding the learning of the English language and Mathematics to the enthusiasm of these village school children is multiplying into a neat sum. It promises a countdown to the end of Bihar's backwardness.

Women take sex education to madarsa

Women’s empowerment is getting a new resonance in an underdeveloped Bihar district. Kishanganj, which didn’t have a district hospital till a few years back, is witnessing a revolution with an NGO teaching reproductive and sexual healthcare to teenage girls in a madarsa.

On International Women’s Day, the tale of attitudinal change through innovation and conviction is worth recounting.

The adolescent reproductive and sexual healthcare programme — Project Sanjivini, which began in 2004, was carried out in 15 villages, addressing girls between 10 and 19.

Convincing village elders in a predominantly Muslim district to allow young girls to attend classes on sex education wasn’t easy. It took Azad India Foundation (AIF) two-and-half years to gain the confidence of the people. But there is significant attitudinal change now, says AIF executive director Yuman Hussain.

“An old lady who attended one of the health classes in Mohiuddinpur came back with both her daughters-in-law to have them operated so that they don’t have more children,” she says.

In another instance, a 16-year-old girl, keen on pursuing her education, stood her ground and said she would marry only after she turned 18. “Aware of the hazards of early childbirth, Rosy turned down the marriage proposal,” recalls Parwez Raza, coordinator of the programme.

According to the 2001 census, Kishanganj has the lowest female literacy rate (18.5 per cent) in India.

Cases of human trafficking and cases of HIV/AIDS are on the rise, says the AIF. Early marriages and pregnancies are common.

Najma Das, an AIF field worker from Kishanganj, made a social breakthrough when she began to teach reproductive healthcare to girls in the madarsa.

"We didn't start off by directly talking about birth control and permanent contraception. But with time, we put our message across and the girls were keen to understand," said Das.

The endeavour has the approval of religious leaders. Gyasuddin, a 70-year-old cleric from Mohiuddinpur village, had this to say about allowing women community leaders from AIF to teach at his madarsa: "The Koran says that if need be one should go to China to acquire education. So why not the madarsa?"

Make Bihar a job provider

DARBHANGA: In the backdrop of the recent attacks on north Indians, especially Biharis, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday tried to evoke the Bihari pride, asking the people to turn it into such a developed state that job-seekers from all over the country come here.

"It will be a befitting reply to those who have made insulting remarks against migrant Biharis and tried to whip up regional passions. We have got this knack of transforming challenges into opportunities," he said.

Addressing a meeting, Antarrashtriya Imam Ahmad Reza Conference, at Raj Ground here, Nitish urged the people to maintain restraint and not retaliate, otherwise "many people would succeed in their nefarious designs."

"Make constructive efforts to put the state on the path of development and give a befitting reply to the divisive forces which have hurt the Bihari pride," he said. "The people of Bihar may be impoverished but they are certainly not dishonest. They are extremely hard working. The migrant Biharis should remain wherever they are.

There is absolutely no need to panic. Each and every citizen has a right to live in any part of the country," he reiterated.

Without taking the names of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, the CM said one should learn to respect sentiments of others. "Our people are our biggest assets," he said.

Nitish also made it clear that the Union government's silence over the Mumbai episode would not be tolerated anymore.

If they don't act firmly, it would be understood that both the Congress and Union government have given their tacit support to the whole episode, he said.

Bihar takes first steps to take-off

4.4% is Bihar's growth in agriculture this year, the fastest in the country, reports a study by Punjab Agricultural University

• 265% is the rise in corporate tax collection in the Patna circle alone, according to Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

• Reliance, Tata and oil PSUs are in the queue to take over Bihar's state-owned sugar mills to develop alternate fuel

• $225 million is the loan sanctioned by World Bank to boost economic growth in Bihar

The foundation is slowly falling into place, and if it holds together into the next new year, the state that has long been held up as a mirror to what's wrong with the country will soon be ready for a dramatic makeover. In infrastructure, public health, tax revenue and most significantly, agriculture.

"Fifteen years into India's economic reforms, the country's poorest state Bihar, is finally gearing itself to catch up with rest of India. A slew of fiscal and legislative reforms implemented in the recent past stand testimony to this silent transformation taking place in a state that has, for long, been stereotyped as a failed state," says a recent study by World Bank.

From abolishing the Agricultural Product Marketing Control (APMC) Act and checking exploitation of farmers by traders to repealing the Urban Land Ceiling Act and opening a "hassle-free" road for real estate development. From keeping aside Rs 18,000 crore for developing roads to harnessing new avenues of growth like ethanol-based fuel.

The reasons for Bihar's changing face are many, say experts and officials. "Legislative backing to most of the reforms has also boosted investor confidence... Major international donor agencies are thus gearing up to contribute to the state's development," says the World Bank report.

But according to Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, whose NDA government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took over last year, the first big step was the collective decision to delegate power from top down. "It is yielding huge results," says Modi.

The most tangible growth has been in the agriculture growth rate. According to the PAU study, this has hinged on vegetables and fruits, apart from traditional crops. This highlights the fact that Bihar's farmers are beginning to wake up to the commercial prospects in the sector.

Here, an unexpected boost has come from the Centre's green signal to promote new forms of bio-fuel, especially in blending sugar-generated ethanol and petrol. The result: Hindustan Petroleum, India Glycols and Birla Sugar have touched base with the government on taking over closed sugar mills on lease. "Bihar is sure to emerge as an ethanol hub," says Sugarcane Minister Nitish Mishra.

The other area that the government has zeroed in on is infrastructure. Consider this:

• Record 30% allocation of plan money for road construction

• Utilisation of Rs 8,647 crore on development works in 2006-07, 102 % of the annual expenditure target.

"We intend to spend Rs 18,000 crore in the next three years in the road sector. Massive work is already underway to construct and improve our national and state highways and our district and rural roads. Along with the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana, we have also launched or own road project called the Chief Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana," says Deputy Chairperson of the State Planning Board N K Singh, in the World Bank report.

Dy CM Modi says some administrative tweaking has also helped. "Earlier, a Superintendent Engineer had the power to sanction a project amounting to just Rs 20 lakh. That has been increased to Rs 1 crore, which has resulted in quick decisions," says Modi.

State expenditure, however, is most visible in the public health sector. From 39 patients in January 2006, the number of patients visiting Public Health Centres jumped to 4,524 per month in October 2007.

And, the drastic rise in corporate tax collection reflects the "deepening business activity" in the state, say Income Tax officials. "The figures certainly mean that economic activity has increased manifold. A sharp rise in tax collected at source too confirms that individuals are benefiting from the changing economic scenario," says a senior I-T official based in Patna.

In its report, the Bank also appreciates the government's decision to implement the Single Window Clearance Act and a State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) to facilitate industrial investment.

Other international donor agencies too have come forward to chip in. Along with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the UK-based Department for International Development (DFID) are jointly working to support the development agenda.

"As we move forward, we are working closely with the ADB and DFID to define a joint framework for a coordinated approach to our assistance," says Dipak Dasgupta, World Bank's Lead Economist in New Delhi.

"Abolishing APMC has checked exploitation of traders. However, the land belonging to marketing boards will be best utilised when big companies like Reliance and ITC come to Bihar for contract

World Bank India Newsletter : September 2007 :Can Bihar get out of the poverty trap?

Fifteen years into India’s economic reforms, the country’s poorest state Bihar, is finally gearing itself to catch up with the rest of India.

A slew of fiscal and legislative reforms implemented in the recent past stand testimony to this silent transformation taking place in a state that has, for long been stereotyped as a ‘failed state’ in popular public imagination.

From being the first state to abolish the Agriculture Product Marketing Control (APMC) Act, thus providing additional avenues to farmers from sale of produce, to repealing the Urban Land Ceiling Act and adopting the Model Municipal Act which is expected to attract organized construction and real estate firms to Bihar; to providing a Single Window Clearance Act 2006 and a State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) to facilitate industrial investments, Bihar has indeed come a long way.

What is more, to make a positive impact on the state’s financial health, it has also undertaken a number of measures to eliminate the revenue deficit and contain the fiscal deficit in a time-bound manner. Financial powers have been decentralized to line departments, and, outdated financial rules, particularly with regard to public procurement, have been replaced with those that promote efficiency, transparency and accountability.

Bihar is a crucible in India’s battle against poverty


So has the ball been set rolling for India’s poorest state? With a population of 90 million, 37 million of them below the poverty line, Bihar has a per capita income of around $160, representing one of the most densely populated agglomerations of poor people anywhere in the world. While the state accounts for 8 per cent of India’s population, it contributes only 1.6 per cent of the country’s GDP. Its per capita income has averaged a mere 1.5 per cent growth per year, the slowest among major Indian states.

“Our aim is to increase the state’s GDP growth from an average of 4.5 per cent to 8.5 per cent in the next five years. Public investment is expected to be around Rs 600 billion and private sector investment Rs 1,070 billion in the 11th Five Year Plan period,” according to the Deputy Chairperson of the State Planning Commission, Mr. N. K. Singh.

The state administration also looked at what the economically better-off states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh had done on the reforms front, and replicated their experiences, as with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Single Window for Industry, and decentralization of financial powers to state departments.

Legislative backing to most of the reforms being undertaken has also boosted investor confidence in the state’s economic overhaul. Major international donor agencies are thus gearing up to contribute to the state’s development.

World Bank’s initiatives


It is against this backdrop that the World Bank is set to re-engage with the state in a major way after a gap of many years. That initiative was set in motion in 2004-2005 when the World Bank reviewed its Country Strategy for India and decided to focus its efforts in the poorest states of the country. The Bank identified Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh and began initiatives to support the states’ development agenda. Of these, Bihar alone accounted for around 15 percent of India’s poor.

Following this, the Bank prepared a report titled Bihar: Towards a Development Strategy in June 2005 which formed the basis of the development partnership between the Bank and the state government. The report also helped the Bank get a comprehensive analysis of the development challenges and opportunities facing Bihar. Since then, the Bank has been engaged in helping the state build its capacity in a range of sectors, from public expenditure management to flood forecasting to reforming the public distribution system.

“While Bihar has a lot of catching up to do, there are signs of hope. If the current momentum for progress can be sustained, the state can hope to bring prosperity to its people. The road to development will now need the combined efforts of the state and the central government, the private sector, civil society, Bihar’s migrant population, as well as the international community,” says Ms. Isabel Guerrero, the World Bank Country Director for India.

National/multi-state World Bank projects active in Bihar


* Reproductive and Child Health II
* Third National HIV/AIDS Control Project
* Tuberculosis Control Project II
* Vocational Training India
* National Agriculture Innovation Project
* Disease Surveillance
* Food & Drugs Capacity Building
* Lucknow-Muzaffarpur National Highway
* Grand Trunk Road Improvement
* National Highways III

Improving livelihoods

The Bank has now started lending support to Bihar with a US$63 million Bihar Livelihoods Project, named Jeevika to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor in 4,000 villages in the poorest districts of Nalanda, Gaya, Muzzafarpur, Madhubani, Khagaria, and Purnea. It is expected to directly benefit about 2.9 million people belonging to 590,000 households.

Managing floods

Bihar being a flood-prone state, with 76 percent of the population in north Bihar living under the recurring threat of devastation by floods, the Government of Bihar has identified improvement of flood control as a priority area where they would like the World Bank to help. The Bank along with the Department for International Development (DFID) is providing technical support to the Government of Bihar for flood forecasting and management. A number of initiatives are already underway to improve the technical and institutional capacity of the state for flood management by developing and implementing a comprehensive Flood Management Information System (FMIS) to support flood control and management through early warning and emergency response systems, a comprehensive flood website, upgrading of hydraulic measurements and telemetry, training and building the capacity of officials and looking at new technological approaches to improve the decision making process before, during, and after a flood takes place. All this is expected to help the state move from merely responding to a disaster to improved disaster preparedness.

Apart from this the Bank has received a request for a Development Policy Loan that will enable the state government to implement its broad development agenda.

A joint framework for donor coordination

In fact donor coordination has been a key enabling factor in the Bank’s engagement with Bihar. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), The Department for International Development (DFID), and the World Bank are jointly working to support Bihar’s development agenda. “As we move forward we are working closely with the ADB and DFID to define a joint framework for a coordinated approach to our assistance,” adds Mr. Dipak Dasgupta, World Bank’s Lead Economist in New Delhi.

Donors agree that the level of poverty and degradation in Bihar is so stark that if projects are implemented well they will show immediate results and create much bigger impact. “The Government of Bihar has already undertaken a number of reforms. But implementation on the ground will be the key,” says World Bank’s Bihar State Coordinator Mandakini Kaul. The risks are also high. The infrastructure needed for accelerating growth is extremely poor. State institutions also need to gear up if they are expected to implement the government’s vision. What is more, the state is also prone to natural disasters with recurrent floods in the northern areas and frequent droughts in the southern areas.
The recently launched World-Bank supported Jeevika project will help organize women from poor and disadvantaged households into vibrant and self-managed institutions of the poor. These self-help groups will be federated into village organizations, which will receive project investments for various activities through a participatory micro-planning process. In the last phase these groups will undertake income-generating activities, and develop linkages with market institutions. The project will also finance Community Investment Funds, which the village organizations can use as a revolving fund to finance various community infrastructure works.

Optimism about the future

The state government is optimistic. “I think the present government has made a quantum shift by adopting a development centric approach, delegating power and improving governance. I am optimistic that Bihar will achieve the daunting target of 8.5 percent growth in the next five years. It is realizable and I hope that Bihar will not only improve its own economy but will also contribute significantly to the national economy,” Mr. Singh said spelling out the vision of the government.

So what’s in the pipeline?

Mr. N. K. Singh sums up the future agenda thus: Major initiatives are already underway in the infrastructure sector, which includes roads, energy, and the health sector. “We intend to spend Rs 18,000 crore in the next three years in the road sector. Massive work is already underway to construct and improve our national and state highways and our district and rural roads. Along with the PM’s Gram Sadak Yojana, we have also launched our own roads project called the CM’s Gram Sadak Yojana to connect all habitations,” says Mr. Singh.

Education and agriculture are also top priority for the government. The state has abolished the system of hiring contract teachers and instead developed a decentralized model with active involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Already, 100,000 PRI teachers have been appointed. The aim: to bring down the pupil teacher ratio to 40:1, from around 90:1 in 2003.

Improving job skills


A large portion of the 90 million population of Bihar comprises young people. Bihar also has a huge migrant population that moves out of the state in search of jobs, most often as migrant laborers. Plans are afoot to upgrade the industrial training institutes as well as set up new vocational institutes in collaboration with the private sector. “If people have to migrate to other states in search of jobs, we would at least like to ensure that they acquire better skills and attract better jobs, so that remittances that they give to the state are better,” adds Mr. Singh. The state is also focusing on higher education and Mr. Singh says Bihar is expected to get its first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) soon.

Similarly, the state is also gearing up to harness its comparative advantage in agriculture. It has already taken a step towards this end by abolishing the Agriculture Product Marketing Control (APMC) Act, and thus providing additional avenues to farmers. The state would now like to move into value-added and processed agriculture.

Providing better healthcare to the people


The state’s precarious health sector has been administered a major shake up: Primary Health Centers (PHCs) are reporting a spurt at an average of 3,000 patients per month against a dismal average of 39 patients per month earlier, and now stabilizing at an impressive 2,200 patients per month; routine immunization coverage has increased from 11 per cent to 33 per cent in the past 18 months. The PHCs are now open 24 hours under strict government directive.

“The government is closely monitoring the health care centers to know the kind of patients visiting these centers, the drugs that are being administered and whether the PHCs have sufficient supply of drugs. These centers are also being linked with computers to maintain such records,” Mr. Singh adds.

Tapping Bihar’s tourism potential


The much-talked about revival plan for Nalanda University is also underway. The government has already acquired 600-acres of land outside old Nalanda. The University will be sponsored by several countries, including India, Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

“We would like to make Nalanda University a world-class center for education, culture, and religion. It will be a hub to foster culture,” says Mr. Singh who is also a member of the newly-floated mentor group for Nalanda University chaired by Amartya Sen. Government feels tourism in the Buddhist circuit will also pick up if this university gains international recognition and acceptance.

Now that Bihar has also taken the bold step to repeal the Urban Land Ceiling Act and
has even adopted the Model Municipal Act framed by the Government of India, the capital city of Patna and the Buddhist destinations of Gaya, Bodh Gaya and Rajgir are geared for major makeover. “ Bihar has huge tourism potential. We are developing and strengthening the infrastructure in the Buddhist circuit,” says Mr. Singh.

The path ahead is likely to be fraught with many trials and tribulations for all those involved in Bihar’s road to prosperity but if India is to prosper, Bihar will have to be reborn again, both in purpose and in the public imagination.

Shotgun, you just lost an oppertunity

He was famous as Bihari Babu in Bollywood, and that identity led him do a few Bhojpuri films recently. An actor turned leader, who has dreams of becoming the Chief Minister of Bihar someday... (and he was even angry to BJP, because they did not presented him as CM during last Bihar Polls).

But no one... not even a single person even thought that HE can support Shivsena Chief against BIHARIs (and other north Indians), but yesterday he said "Bal Thackray is like a God for me... and I support his move towards Biharis. I even agree that out of 300 vacancies, at least 275 seats in Mumbai should be reserved for Marathis (for any post)... "

Wow... its so great to hear all this... we are already getting reservations due to caste, creed, and religion... do you want to start a system, where reservation should be based on the Language one speaks, and on the basis of the state, one belongs to ???

I having nothing much to say Mr. Shotgun, but you have just lost the oppertunity to become a chief minister of Bihar someday... I am not sure, if you would have achieved that post, but now I am pretty sure that you wont be able to face Biharis, or represent Bihar anymore... Just due to a small statement, You have dashed your dream by your hands itself...

You may read the complete article in Bhojpuri at
mvcaz
http://www.bhojpuria.com/samachar/news.php?a=5024

Let's boycott the people, who earn from Bihar... but work against Bihar.

Sudhir Kumar
Bhojpuria.com
Phone: 9334 777 777

Nitish Speaks Out-You welcome migrants to build skyscrapers and once done, you hate them

Political leaders are shooting their mouths off in a very irresponsible manner and common citizens are bearing the brunt. This should stop immediately. The Prime Minister should take the lead and convene a meeting of leaders from Bihar and Maharashtra to find a solution. The "hate campaign" against Hindi-speaking people is spreading each day. It has now touched the icons (even some film stars have come out to support the intolerance). The direction this is taking or the one that's being given to this issue is certainly not in the national interest.

Whatever is happening in Maharashtra is very dangerous for the country. It’s not only a question of Bihar or Biharis. Things are drifting ahead and if they are not checked urgently, then it could be very detrimental for the country. That’s why I am urging the Union Government and the Prime Minister to intervene without any delay. For, it is the responsibility of the Union Government to protect the interests of the country.

Political leaders are shooting their mouths off in a very irresponsible manner and common citizens are bearing the brunt. This should stop immediately. The Prime Minister should take the lead and convene a meeting of leaders from Bihar and Maharashtra to find a solution. The “hate campaign” against Hindi-speaking people is spreading each day. It has now touched the icons (even some film stars have come out to support the intolerance). The direction this is taking or the one that’s being given to this issue is certainly not in the national interest.

It is sad that the Centre so far hasn’t taken the matter seriously. If the Centre does not intervene, it will send a wrong signal. Several questions will be raised. It may be construed that the Centre has given consent towards vitiating the atmosphere in Maharashtra. This is very dangerous.

So far as migration of people from Bihar and north India to Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra is concerned, it should be clear that there is nothing illegal about it. India is one country. It is the Constitutional right of its every citizen to work and settle anywhere in this country.

Further, Biharis have contributed immensely to the economic growth of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Without labour from Bihar and other north Indian states, would it have been possible to undertake the huge construction work in Mumbai and other parts of the country? Haven’t masons and labourers from Bihar contributed in building the skyscrapers that Mumbai today boasts of? You welcome migrants when their labour and skill are needed. And once economic growth is achieved, you turn them into hate figures. Is this fair?

I accept that the backwardness of Bihar and the eastern region is a key factor that leads people to migrate to other parts of the country in search of employment. But that’s not the whole truth. There are social factors too. However, economic growth of Bihar in particular and the eastern region in general is the need of the hour to end regional imbalances.

For a long time, Bihar has been asking for a special economic package from the Centre. The state has always suffered from a development deficit due to lopsided economic policies of the Centre.

Bihar and the eastern region need special attention and care to catch up with the rest of the country. It is very essential for the country too. India cannot hope to become developed, peaceful and prosperous if the eastern region lags behind.

Ever since my government came to power in the state, we have been pressing for the economic package. In 2004, both the President and the Union Finance Minister, in their speeches during the Budget session, talked about it. But sadly, even after five years it has not come.

The economic package will spur a host of activity in the state. People will have plenty of job opportunities in their home state. Then the compulsion to migrate to other states will end. Already, my government has undertaken construction work on a huge scale and the results are positive. Migration figures from Bihar have decreased to great extent. Some time back, I was in Punjab and people there confirmed that the number of people coming from Bihar has decreased to a great extent. When my Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi was in Gujarat last year, industrialists urged him to make an appeal to Biharis to come to their state.

The motto of my government is very clear. People should not be compelled to leave the state to earn just two square meals for themselves and their families. If they want to go out for their own betterment, they are welcome to do so and they should be welcomed wherever they go. My government is committed to achieving such a situation. We are working hard to improve the situation, it has improved a lot but a lot remains to be done. Support from all quarters, particularly the Centre is needed. Bihar deserves a special economic package. The public and the private sector, too, should come forward and invest in the state. It will benefit them. Bihar has tremendous potential. It should be harnessed if the country wants to become developed. Moreover, development of Bihar and the eastern region is imperative for peace and prosperity in the country.

The immediate danger for peace and prosperity in India, however, is the situation in Mumbai and Maharashtra. I urge, repeat, urge the Centre to realize the danger it poses for the country and intervene towards an amicable solution.

Building a Better Future for Bihar

The devastating floods in Bihar remind us of the state’s special importance in India. Straddling the country’s heartland, and home to one of its largest and poorest populations, Bihar is the crucible in India’s battle against poverty. In many ways, Bihar’s journey on the road to development will play a major role in shaping the India of tomorrow.



In response to the people’s aspirations, the state government has begun to set the stage for rapid economic development. It has undertakensweeping policy reforms, sometimes moving ahead of the more progressive states in the country. Major initiatives have been taken to streamline the administration, attract industry, ensure easier credit and better prices for farmers, and to lay the foundation for bringing modern e governance services to the people. Challenging popular perception, women have won more seats in the state’s recent panchayat polls than were reserved for them. By all accounts, law and order has improved, and informal surveys show that many people see a change for the better.



Bihar already enjoys many natural advantages and opportunities. The River Ganges flows through its heart, bringing much needed water to its fertile farmland, especially during the long dry season. As the birthplace of the Buddha, the state has the potential to become a hub of world class tourism. Gaya already has an international airport, and Nalanda is slated to become a new university, reviving its ancient heritage as a renowned seat of learning. And, Bihar’s people, working in the public and private sectors across the country, are a valuable resource for the country as a whole.



With the stage now set for development, the World Bank has resumed support to Bihar after a gap of many years. A recent project for US$63 million, aptly called ‘Jeevika’, aims to light the spark of empowerment to help rural women start productive new livelihoods. The project will cover 4000 villages in Bihar’s poorest districts. Improving economic opportunities for poor and disadvantaged communities is particularly important in a state like Bihar where more than two thirds of agricultural families have little or no land whatsoever.



Yet, formidable challenges remain. Bihar is still the poorest state in the country with a per capita income that is half the national average. Forty percent of its 90 million people live below the poverty line, making it home to one of densest concentrations of poor people anywhere in the word. And as we are seeing again this year, Bihar’s northern areas are prone to recurrent flooding, while the southern areas suffer from frequent droughts. The state also compares extremely poorly with the rest of India on critical infrastructure issues – road transport, urban infrastructure, and power – all of which are essential for development. Huge investments are needed. And, although the vision for development is strong, state institutions that must implement this agenda need improvement.



While Bihar has a lot of catching up to do, there are signs of hope. If the current momentum for progress can be sustained, the state can hope to bring prosperity to its people. The road to development will now need the combined efforts of the state and the central government, the private sector, civil society, Bihar’s migrant population, as well as the international community.



The World Bank stands ready to help. Apart from our new rural livelihoods project, we are already partnering with the Government of India on implementing a number of national projects in the state – including the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan which aims to enroll all primary-age children in school by 2010. Bihar also receives a significant share of three national highway improvement projects that are supported by the Bank and we will soon be helping the state to build a network of rural roads as part of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.



The Bank has also been helping the Government of Bihar to build technical capacity in a range of sectors, from public expenditure management, to the reform of the public distribution system. A Development Policy Loan to help the state implement its broad development agenda is also under preparation. Given the devastation wrought by the recent floods, we are looking at ways to expand our on-going technical support to the Government of Bihar for flood forecasting and management. And, as we move forward, we are working closely with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) to define a joint framework for a coordinated approach to our assistance.