A New Bihar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has got another feather in his cap from none other than President Pratibha Patil, the latter obviously impressed by the efforts towards empowering women and the overall development of the state under the stewardship of Nitish Kumar. Ever since coming to power (he has been re-elected for a second term) by defeating Laloo Prasad Yadav, the quiet and efficient Chief Minister of Bihar has gone about doing his job earning both admiration and respect from even his opposition. Under him Bihar has changed for the better. The image of Bihar as a land of crime, corruption, cattle, backwardness and poverty is now a thing of the past. Today there are visible signs of peace and development. This is indeed refreshing. Today Bihar would undoubtedly be the most improved State in the country. It’s indeed a great leap forward and due credit to the leadership of Nitish Kumar. When people talk about the new Bihar, they usually refer to the transformation—the State was in complete chaos when Nitish Kumar first assumed office in 2005. Bihar was more popular for its rampant kidnapping and killing, the disorder, poverty and caste politics. Things have changed and there is hope and optimism among the people. Not only within but the image of Bihar as perceived by the outsider is positive. This is very important for the future prospect of the State. With order, political stability and strong progressive leadership, investors will have confidence to enter Bihar and this will do a world of good to the local economy.

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The other aspect about the leadership quality of Nitish Kumar, which merits attention and applause, is the reformist zeal that he has demonstrated during his tenure as Chief Minister. This is rare for a politician because the more power you get to wield, the more entrenched your vested interest becomes. In the case of Nitish, he has challenged the status-quo on many occasions.

Take the case of the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) Fund, which the Nitish Kumar government has scrapped. In a unique approach, the failed LADF has been replaced by the CM Area Development Programme (CMADP). Under the plan, which will be at the district-level (as against the Assembly segment level), while the minister-in-charge, MLAs and MLCs concerned will only select schemes every year, its implementation will rest with a body of engineers headed by Engineer-in-Chief. Also, while chief/executive engineers will sign cheques, district magistrates can only monitor implementation of schemes so they meet deadlines.

As against arbitrary selection of contractors under the MLALAD Fund, there will be open tendering in which a CAG representative would be present. Bihar has therefore become the first state in the country to scrap the LADF because of the rampant corruption within the existing system. Nitish Kumar is not your usual run in the mill politician who clings on to power. He has an agenda and vision for the peaceful development of Bihar and its people. And he wants to deliver this vision through real performance and not just publicity stunts. Politicians in India and even Nagaland can learn from Nitish Kumar. He has been able to move away from the old ways of doing politics i.e. based on the status-quo. And in a way this is welcome development not only for Bihar but also for the politics of the country

Nitish favourite to lead Bihar again, survey shows

New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the most popular leader in the state and was likely to retain the post, an opinion poll said Wednesday.

'Nitish Kumar emerges as the most popular candidate to be the next chief minister in Bihar with 63 percent people in favour of him whereas Lalu Prasad Yadav trails by 25 percent,' the NDTV said in a release on the findings of the opinion poll.

A large majority believes that the Nitish Kumar government has done a good job in handling flood situation with 73 percent people saying he has done enough on development indicators like 'bijli, sadak and paani' (power, roads and water).

A majority of people in Madhya pradesh, 67 percent of the respondents, are in favour of the state's Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan being elected as the next chief minister.

Bihar's image has changed for good, claims Nitish Kumar

Patna, Nov 24 - Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Saturday that Bihar's image has had a positive change and national and international institutions have shown interest in investing in the state.

'In the last two years, our government has strived to provide development with justice to all sections of society,' Nitish Kumar said while releasing a report card here on completion of his government's two years in office.

'Things have changed and the image is also changing. Bihar is on the threshold of making its own rare brand of development,' Nitish Kumar said.

'We have underlined improvement in law and order, agriculture and rural development, campaign against corruption, qualitative improvement in education, road and infrastructure, health services, minority welfare, welfare of women, children and disabled as our priorities.'

Speedy trial of criminal cases has sent the message that criminals can no longer roam freely and 'the rule of law has been established in the state' he said.

The report card highlighted communal harmony in the state and numerous schemes started for the development and welfare of minorities, dalits, backward castes and women.

On the occasion, Nitish Kumar announced launching of four welfare schemes, including Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojna and Kanya Suraksha Yojna.

He said the government had decided to provide free textbooks to Muslim students and Rs.10,000 grant to each student of the Muslim community who secures first division in matriculation board examination.

Under Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojna, girls from families having an annual income less than Rs.60,000 will be given a grant of Rs.5,000 on registration of their marriage.

Nitish finds his muse in Sher Shah Suri

Patna, Oct 25 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has found his inspiration in Sher Shah Suri, the 16th century founder of the Suri dynasty known for initiating path-breaking reforms.

'Sher Shah Suri is my idol. He is my inspiration,' said Nitish Kumar, who has been trying to put Bihar on the path of development, after visiting the Muslim ruler's tomb in Sasaram, about 150 km from here, Wednesday.

'We all respect and remember him for his developmental work,' he said.

Nitish Kumar has been widely described as 'Vikash Purush' or 'man for development' by leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for initiating numerous development projects in Bihar.

Sher Shah Suri (1472-1545) is also known as Sher Khan or the Lion King. Although his empire was short-lived, from 1539 to 1545, he left a deep imprint on the minds of the people - and history - by carrying out infrastructure projects, like building long stretches of roads, bridges, wayside inns etc.

The chief minister promised help for preservation and protection of Suri's tomb, which is facing threats from pollution and encroachment.

The five-storey mausoleum stands on a tank whose water has turned acidic, posing a threat to its survival.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) two years back warned the state government about the ecological threat to the tomb. ASI officials said the tank's water had turned acidic and was polluted due to its use by local residents. Untreated sewage and effluents flow into the tank, which is spread over a large area. 'The tank's water is posing a serious threat to the mausoleum's life,' an ASI official said.

The ASI official also urged the state to ban immersion of idols in the tank and restrict any construction within a radius of 200 m of the mausoleum.

The district administration allowed the immersion of idols in the tank from 1980 after a pond in the neighbourhood dried up.

Encroachments have come up on the mausoleum's premises. Though the state government claims to have spent Rs.700,000 to Rs.800,000 on the tomb's maintenance, it appears to have been done only on paper.

The tomb was declared a national heritage under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958). The ASI took it over for preservation and protection in 1938.

Buddha`s Ahimsa the only solution to growing extremism-Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the theory of 'Ahimsa', originally propounded by Lord Buddha, is the only solution to growing extremism and terrorism across the globe.

Inaugurating a function in Rajgir to mark the 38th anniversary of 'Vishwa Shanti Stupa' at Ratnagiri peak, Mr Kumar said the United Nations' declaration of October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, as Non-Violence Day this year ''was an open testimony of the fact that its original propounder Lord Buddha`s ideologies had recognition of the world community.

Mr Kumar also said his Government was committed to revatilising the historical Nalanda University, the original seat of Buddhist learning. The Government, he said, was working on various aspects, including aims and objectives of reviving Buddhist learning.

''Some issues had been resolved. Like former president and eminent scientist APJ Abdul Kalam has agreed to be the `visitor` of the Nalanda International University while eminent economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and a Harvard University faculty Sugatha Bose are on the board of the advisory panel for completing the project at the earliest,'' he added.

Those accompanying Mr Kumar included Road Construction and Tourism Minister Nand Kishore Yadav,Energy Minister Vijender Yadav and Agriculture Minister Narender Singh.