Railways are all set to run the bi-weekly Patna-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (2309-2310) daily by the end of this month.
Railway minister Lalu Prasad had announced increase in its frequency in the rail budget presented in the Lok Sabha on February 26.
According to Danapur DRM Pankaj Jain, the division is fully prepared to run the prestigious train daily. Though a date is yet to be decided, the change is likely to be effected after May 20 with no change in the load combination of 14 coaches.
"We are already running two other prestigious trains — Sampoorna Kranti Express and Garib Rath — on the Patna-Delhi route daily with full occupancy," Jain said, adding the railways have also increased the speed limit up of all superfast trains on the route to 110-120 kmph.
He said the Railway Board has been monitoring the movement of each train either terminating at or passing through Patna Junction to maintain punctuality.
The division has of late been receiving several pairs of long-distance trains from various railway zones behind the schedule. Most of the trains originating from Patna Junction get a bit late due to their late arrival in the division. "The board has directed all railway zones concerned to maintain punctuality," the DRM said. According to sources, the ECR has set up a cell at the headquarters level at Hajipur to monitor the run of each mail and express train either originating from or passing through its five divisions. However, the main focus is on Patna Junction with the railway minister recently directing the officials concerned to improve punctuality of trains here.
The DRM said railways have been carrying out both primary and secondary maintenance of passenger coaches in the division. While primary maintenance takes at least five to six hours for the entire rake to get ready for a run, the secondary maintenance consumes about two to three hours to make the entire rake fit for its departure. This maintenance is a must from safety point of view, he said.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Signature campaign for Kalam's second term
Patna, May 15: A social organisation in Bihar has launched a signature campaign in support of a second term for President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam whose tenure ends in July.
"We have already collected hundreds of signatures since the campaign started Monday. We will collect signatures of as many people as possible in support of a second term for the popular president," Rajeev Lochan Prasad, convenor of the Patna-based Rational Thinker Organisation, said Tuesday.
He said the campaign was aimed at creating a massive people-friendly lobby for Kalam. "We have been collecting signatures of intellectuals, students, professionals, government employees, businessmen as well as labourers to show support for him among all sections of soceity," he said.
Volunteers of the organisation are distributing forms to people seeking their views and their signature in support of their cause.
Lochan said his organisation would collect "enough" number of signatures from Bihar and other states in coming weeks. "We will send copies of the forms to leading political parties to seek their support for Kalam."
He added that the campaign had received tremendous response from people. "When we started the campaign in the Patna Medical College and Hospital premises on Monday, we were not sure of support from medical students and teachers but it was a hit," Lochan said.
The dominant view among the people about Kalam was that he had the vision and determination "to make India a superpower by 2020", Lochan said.
"We have already collected hundreds of signatures since the campaign started Monday. We will collect signatures of as many people as possible in support of a second term for the popular president," Rajeev Lochan Prasad, convenor of the Patna-based Rational Thinker Organisation, said Tuesday.
He said the campaign was aimed at creating a massive people-friendly lobby for Kalam. "We have been collecting signatures of intellectuals, students, professionals, government employees, businessmen as well as labourers to show support for him among all sections of soceity," he said.
Volunteers of the organisation are distributing forms to people seeking their views and their signature in support of their cause.
Lochan said his organisation would collect "enough" number of signatures from Bihar and other states in coming weeks. "We will send copies of the forms to leading political parties to seek their support for Kalam."
He added that the campaign had received tremendous response from people. "When we started the campaign in the Patna Medical College and Hospital premises on Monday, we were not sure of support from medical students and teachers but it was a hit," Lochan said.
The dominant view among the people about Kalam was that he had the vision and determination "to make India a superpower by 2020", Lochan said.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Possibilty of 2000 yr old civilisation in Bihar, artefacts discovered
Saharsa, May 14: The discovery of an ancient ringwell and some decorated broken earthen pots in digging at the house of a villager at Mahishi in the district last week, has opened up the possibility of discovering a 2000 year old ancient civilisation in the area.
The incident came to light when Manoj Choudhury, a former panchayat pradhan of Mahishi, ordered digging up of his residence's backyard fro erection of a cellphone tower on Friday last.
After digging nearly ten feet into the ground, the labourers suddenly hit something big.
Everyone present at the spot thought that they had found some underground treasure trove but following careful observation and some specialised digging, remains of about a five feet long and nearly three feet wide big earthen ringwell came to the fore, generating tremendous curiosity among the villagers.
Encouraged by the sudden discovery and hoping to find an underground treasure, further digging continued in and around the area for some more time following which several other pieces of decorated earthen pots were recovered.
Failing to understand what to do with the sudden discovery of these underground ''invaluable treasurers'', the local government officials were soon informed, who in turn contacted the ASI (ASI) in Patna for an on the spot visit to access the historial value of the findings.
Though no proper step to preserve the discovered items had yet been taken by the ASI or government, the preliminary observations have revealed that the artefacts were nearly 2000 years old, and might indicate that a thriving civilisation existed in the area.
Incidentally, the ASI had already identified at least four ancient mounds in the district including those at Kandaha and Bongaon for starting excavation of the remains of possibly the 'Maurya period'', which existed within the precints of the district long time ago.
However, with the discovery of several artifacts at Mahishi, a new chapter of Indian history might have now flung opened, signalling the existence of even an older civilisation in this part of Eastern India for long.
The incident came to light when Manoj Choudhury, a former panchayat pradhan of Mahishi, ordered digging up of his residence's backyard fro erection of a cellphone tower on Friday last.
After digging nearly ten feet into the ground, the labourers suddenly hit something big.
Everyone present at the spot thought that they had found some underground treasure trove but following careful observation and some specialised digging, remains of about a five feet long and nearly three feet wide big earthen ringwell came to the fore, generating tremendous curiosity among the villagers.
Encouraged by the sudden discovery and hoping to find an underground treasure, further digging continued in and around the area for some more time following which several other pieces of decorated earthen pots were recovered.
Failing to understand what to do with the sudden discovery of these underground ''invaluable treasurers'', the local government officials were soon informed, who in turn contacted the ASI (ASI) in Patna for an on the spot visit to access the historial value of the findings.
Though no proper step to preserve the discovered items had yet been taken by the ASI or government, the preliminary observations have revealed that the artefacts were nearly 2000 years old, and might indicate that a thriving civilisation existed in the area.
Incidentally, the ASI had already identified at least four ancient mounds in the district including those at Kandaha and Bongaon for starting excavation of the remains of possibly the 'Maurya period'', which existed within the precints of the district long time ago.
However, with the discovery of several artifacts at Mahishi, a new chapter of Indian history might have now flung opened, signalling the existence of even an older civilisation in this part of Eastern India for long.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Car, Motorcycle Rally to Promote Safe Driving
Dozens of male and female participants took part in a car and motorcycle rally in Patna on Sunday jointly organized by the Bihar Motor Association and the State Bank of India to promote safe driving in Bihar where vehicular deaths are as common and frequent as a political rally at Dak Bungalow crossing.
Men and women eager to participate in the 80 kilometer rally left the State Bank of India, Patna main branch near Gandhi Maidan, after Ranjit Kumar Das, the event official flagged off the race.
"Many lives are lost each day on Bihar roads and with this rally we hope to raise the awareness among both men and women that safety should be the first and foremost consideration while being behind the wheels," Das said.
What’s good for Bihar is good for India
A Stanford-India Mirror Conference took place in Patna this week. It was part of the state government’s programme of confronting the state’s challenges with an open mind to best practices from around the world. The conference brought together a team from the Stanford Center for International Development, members of the state government, researchers from area universities and think tanks, members of the global and local Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) and other members of civil society, to discuss policy challenges for Bihar.
Democracy might look like a ‘constraint’ when policies fail to reach consensus, vested interests block reforms, or people occupy land intended for a power plant. But it is actually an advantage in other ways. The freedom to protest provides information about preferences and needs. Confidence in challenging government policies also lets citizens act as monitors of service quality better than if they were subdued by authority. Active community groups, a byproduct of an open society, could complement governments in providing infrastructure and services.
The focus was not so different than the kinds of general questions that policymakers in India have on their minds: what policies would accelerate inclusive growth? Nick Hope (Stanford) made a presentation on lessons from China, Anjini Kochar (Stanford) on education policies, Ward Hanson (Stanford) on IT and growth, TN Srinivasan (Stanford) on employment generation as well as centre-state relations and AN Sharma and Pinaki Joddar on povert. We spoke on public private partnerships and investment climate.
The Chief Minister of Bihar summarised the reform and legislative initiatives over the last 15 months, and laid out his vision for the coming years. The deputy CM, ministers of HRD, RCD, energy, rural development, science and technology, apart from the chief secretary and commissioners of HRD and finance, among others, provided insights into Bihar’s current strategies. Ramesh Yadava, a charter member of Silicon Valley TiE, also brought out the importance of accelerating the pace of implementation of the multiple commitments made in its recently launched Approach Paper to the XIth Plan. The theme running through all sessions: given the pressing needs, administrative challenges, and constrained financial and human resources in comparison with the task at hand, what steps deserve priority?
Some consensus did emerge:
Learn from others’ experience.
There’s no need to re-invent the wheel in all cases. The world is full of relevant experiences, both successes and failures, to learn from. On SEZs, for example, much of the debate has focused on comparing India and China’s fiscal policies. Nick Hope brought out the importance of an exit policy to wind up any special preferences once their purpose is over.
| Given the many pressing needs, administrative challenges, and constrained financial and human resources in comparison with the task at hand, what steps deserve priority? |
But tailor this experience to local conditions.
Nick Hope’s presentation on China’s development strategy raised a number of suggestions that would need to be tempered to suit India’s democratic setting. China’s differential treatment of coastal and interior provinces, for example, would not be feasible here as a way to focus resources. Our session on mobilising investment discussed an adaptation of the strategy focus on enabling ‘infrastructure clusters’ like office parks, small-store retail malls, or time-share equipment shops that any citizen with an entrepreneurial bent could access, no matter how small the enterprise. These could balance the benefits of focus with the need to avoid shutting any group out of development at first.
And take advantage of India’s conditions.Democracy might look like a ‘constraint’ when policies fail to reach consensus, vested interests block reforms, or people occupy land intended for a power plant. But it is actually an advantage in other ways. The freedom to protest provides information about preferences and needs. Confidence in challenging government policies also lets citizens act as monitors of service quality better than if they were subdued by authority. Active community groups, a byproduct of an open society, could complement governments in providing infrastructure and services.
Take unintended consequences into account.
Anjini Kochar’s presentation on education pointed out that education policies’ focus on creating access to education by localising the school system seems to also have affected the level and variance in quality. Schools designed to serve small localities effectively become segregated when there is residential clustering. Localisation also means that school size is determined by population density more than efficiency. In the end, Professor Kochar recommended an adjustment of the policy to take these multiple dimensions into account: place pre-schools in localities to draw people into the system, but then aggregate students to the efficient scale for higher grades.
Leverage technologies to create change.
India’s development efforts, especially its rural policies, are taking place in an era where ICT can (in theory) mean the ‘death of distance’. The challenge: to develop the content to be diffused through this network and ensure greater access. We discussed in our session the need to create an open-access rural Internet backbone to support government programmes (like agricultural extension) as well as any other applications and services that private entrepreneurs can dream up.
Rework institutions to enable change.
Sessions looked at not only the state’s institutions, but also the state’s institutional context. TN Srinivasan emphasised the importance of rationalising intergovernmental transfers, reconsidering the role of the Planning Commission and restructuring the mechanism for Centre-state relations.
In the end, implement.
Policy pronouncements are just words and aims. Changing outcomes takes concerted actions, coordinated by pragmatic strategies. In all of these areas, Bihar is not alone or unique in India. What is good for Bihar could also be good for India.
Kalam meets scientist friend in Bihar
President APJ Abdul Kalam on Friday met retired scientist MB Verma, a former colleague, during his visit to Bihar's Darbhanga district.
It was a nostalgic moment for both as they held each other's hands and talked.
Verma, who worked with Kalam at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in Bangalore, was overjoyed at meeting the president.
Official sources said Kalam, after addressing Lalit Narayan Mithila University (LMNU) convocation, met Verma and introduced him to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Kalam advised Nitish Kumar to take Verma's help for Bihar's development.
He said Verma could be a role model for the country as even after retirement he was doing exemplary work for improving literacy and healthcare facilities in the state.
Verma, who lives in Rasiyari Baur village in Darbhanga, did not hide his happiness by saying that Kalam's gesture showed the greatness of the man.
He was the project director of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), 'Tejas', manufacturing programme from 1993 to 1996. Kalam, who designed the LCA, was the ADA's director general during the period.
Verma recalled that Kalam was very friendly with his colleagues. "We enjoyed working under his leadership," he said.
After retirement, Verma returned to his village and opened an adult education centre by investing his own money.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Bihar's Kamasutra temple in neglect
Hajipur (Bihar), April 6: A 17th century Shiva temple in Hajipur District of Bihar, which propagated Kamasutra, the ancient Sanskrit treatise on the art of love, is today lying in utter neglect, with the place giving a safe heaven to stray dogs and hooligans.
Built in 1669 by one Suba Kaji Hira Lal in Nepalese art form, the Shiva Temple is said to be the first of its kind constructed with a specific motive to propagate the cycle of creations. The temple, known as Nepali Kothi, has over eighty carvings depicting different poses as stated in Vatsayana's Kamasutra.
Though devotees worship the Shivalinga or, the phallic symbol or Shiva but the temple is also known for its unique artistry. "It was to bring the attention of people of all religions to the cycle of creation, these 84 carvings (depicting the Kamasutra) in wood were made," said Suba Hemant Jha, a local priest.
Hordes of people used to visit the temple, and the old ritual is still followed though on a lesser scale. But with the passage of time, the temple's paintings and the carvings have worn out, requiring urgent conservation.
"Today, this temple is under the jurisdiction of the Bihar government. It has not even appointed a priest or any security, let alone any other arrangements (for worship), " lamented the priest. The temple comes under Bihar government's Tourism Department.
It's minister says, they have plans to refurbish the temple to its past glory and bring it in the State's tourism circuit. "The Bihar government is very concerned about its future.
The State government has allotted 22 lakh rupees for its maintenance. It is our intention to promote this place as a tourist destination. We are already looking into its upkeep, strategies to ring in tourists will follow suit," averred Nand Kishore Yadav, Bihar's Tourism and Railway Minister.
Built in 1669 by one Suba Kaji Hira Lal in Nepalese art form, the Shiva Temple is said to be the first of its kind constructed with a specific motive to propagate the cycle of creations. The temple, known as Nepali Kothi, has over eighty carvings depicting different poses as stated in Vatsayana's Kamasutra.
Though devotees worship the Shivalinga or, the phallic symbol or Shiva but the temple is also known for its unique artistry. "It was to bring the attention of people of all religions to the cycle of creation, these 84 carvings (depicting the Kamasutra) in wood were made," said Suba Hemant Jha, a local priest.
Hordes of people used to visit the temple, and the old ritual is still followed though on a lesser scale. But with the passage of time, the temple's paintings and the carvings have worn out, requiring urgent conservation.
"Today, this temple is under the jurisdiction of the Bihar government. It has not even appointed a priest or any security, let alone any other arrangements (for worship), " lamented the priest. The temple comes under Bihar government's Tourism Department.
It's minister says, they have plans to refurbish the temple to its past glory and bring it in the State's tourism circuit. "The Bihar government is very concerned about its future.
The State government has allotted 22 lakh rupees for its maintenance. It is our intention to promote this place as a tourist destination. We are already looking into its upkeep, strategies to ring in tourists will follow suit," averred Nand Kishore Yadav, Bihar's Tourism and Railway Minister.
Patna Girl Wins at US National Scholastics Chess
Ankita Roy an eighth grader from Horner Junior high School, Fremont, California won 15th place in the United States Junior High (K-9 under 1250) National chess championship held in Sacramento. The championship held at Sacramento convention center from March 30-April 1 drew 994 scholastic players from all over United States.
Ankita won five out of seven games defeating players from Michigan, New York, Wisconsin and California. In last round of her match she went down fighting to Kevin Izquierdo of New York, who won 2nd place in the tournament.
Top 25 players were awarded trophies by United States Chess federation.Ankita already has several titles under her belt including winning the California State Championship (K-3 division) two years in a row which is a record in itself since no girl has ever won this and no player has won this twice.
Ankita's father Sujay Roy, who is also the secretary of the American Organization for the Development of Bihar (AODB) based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, was a junior chess champion during his own time in India.
Ankita won five out of seven games defeating players from Michigan, New York, Wisconsin and California. In last round of her match she went down fighting to Kevin Izquierdo of New York, who won 2nd place in the tournament.
Top 25 players were awarded trophies by United States Chess federation.Ankita already has several titles under her belt including winning the California State Championship (K-3 division) two years in a row which is a record in itself since no girl has ever won this and no player has won this twice.
Ankita's father Sujay Roy, who is also the secretary of the American Organization for the Development of Bihar (AODB) based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, was a junior chess champion during his own time in India.
Nitish government has decided to repair the bridge with its own resources
GANDHI SETU
Fed up with the delay in the Centre sanctioning funds for the maintenance of the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the State Government has decided to carry out repair of the bridge linking North Bihar with the State Capital with its own resources.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took the decision during a late night stroll along the Ganga over which the bridge stands. Alarmed when briefed about the state of the distressed Setu and the unending traffic snarls, he issued necessary instructions to Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav on the spot.
Nitish said that even while funding repair of the bridge, State Government keep up the pressure on the Centre to release fund.
Following Chief Minister's instructions, Yadav convened a high-level meeting and issued necessary directives on reconstruction of the Setu. He said the State Government would seek help from international experts for reconstruction of the Setu and, if required, would completely change the upper structure as a long-term measure. “At the same time the ongoing repair being funded by the Centre will also continue”, he added.
Six months ago the State government had submitted a plan for repair of the entire bridge to the Union Surface Transport Ministry, Yadav said with the suggestion to consult international experts for a long-term solution to the problem. However, Yadav regretted that the Centre was yet to respond to the State Government’s proposal despite the fact that the condition of the Setu was deteriorating by the day.
“Snapping of the vital link between North and South Bihar will adversely affect the State’s economy,” he asserted. A survey conducted on the Setu in January had revealed that nine spans had ‘external pre-stressing’ and 33 required immediate change of hinge bearing. This is in addition to the repair work being carried.
The State Government had invited bids for additional immediate repairs after the Centre failed to respond to a memorandum submitted by the State Government in January.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Hindu trust in Bihar offers job to Bahadur Shah's kin
Kunal is credited with single-handedly turning
around the Mahavir Mandir Trust into a profit making body. The trust runs three hospitals, including the state's first private cancer hospital here, from the monetary offering of devotees and profits from the sale of special sweets prepared by it.A Hindu temple trust in Bihar has offered a job and free education to the impoverished family members of India's last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar's great granddaughter-in-law Sultana Begum.This humane gesture of communal harmony comes in a year that India celebrates the 150th year of the first war of independence in 1857 - a war fought under the leadership of Zafar.
The Patna-based Mahavir Mandir Trust has offered a job to a member of Kolkata-based Sultana Begum's family and free education to her grandson to mark their respect for Zafar, whose contribution to sectarian harmony and national integration is legendary.
'The temple trust has offered a job to any member of her family in any secular institution and free education to her grandson to pay our respects to Bahadur Shah Zafar ' said trust secretary Kishore Kunal here.Sultana Begum, who is in her early 50s, is in Bihar along with a minor grandson on a mission to spread the message of peace and create awareness about Zafar's contributions to society.
'I was honoured when the trust offered a job for a family member and free education to my grandson. It is a great thing to happen, I will not forget this in my lifetime,' said an emotionally charged Sultana Begum, who is the wife of the late Mirza Mohammad Bedar Bakht, the great grandson of Bahadur Shah Zafar.Bakht was born in Rangoon where the British government had imprisoned his great grandfather.
After India's independence, Bakht return to India and married Sultana Begum in 1965.Sultana Begum, who lives off a small scrap shop in a Kolkata slum along with half a dozen family members, also visited a Sikh shrine - the Patna Saheb Gurdwara - and a tomb of a Muslim saint at Phulwarisharif near here.
'We have been struggling for survival. There was virtually no help from the West Bengal government or the central government,' she added.With a meagre pension of Rs.400 since 1980, she has seen near penury after her husband died. ´
'There was no change in my pension but prices of rice and wheat increased manifold. The pension provided by the government hardly allows us to get foods for four days. But who cares for us despite our historical background?' she lamented.
Sultana Begum has set up the Bahadur Shah Zafar Memorial Trust in West Bengal, with the aim of making people aware of the contributions made by the last Mughal emperor.
I want to spread the message of communal harmony of the last Mughal emperor among the youth,' she said. The trust will hold a poetry meet in Kolkata on April 22. She also plans to revive Zafar's famous 'Phul Walon ki Sair' -.Earlier here, Kunal presented her with a shawl, a memento and some traditional sweets prepared by the temple trust. '
We honoured her when she visited a Mahavir Jain temple and offered prayers for communal harmony,' said Kunal, a former IPS officer who was appointed administrator of the Bihar Religious Trusts Board by the Nitish Kumar government.
Kunal is credited with single-handedly turning around the Mahavir Mandir Trust into a profit making body.
The trust runs three hospitals, including the state's first private cancer hospital here, from the monetary offering of devotees and profits from the sale of special sweets prepared by it.The trust, which has also appointed a Dalit priest at the temple, is associated with the Ramanand sect.
Patna is Patliputra, not Azimabad
Patliputra reached the pinnacle of prosperity when it was the capital of the great Mauryan kings, Chandragupta and Ashoka, the great men the present-day Biharis yearn to be identified with. There is an on-going campaign of the people of Bihar to rename Patna with its original name, Patliputra.
The UPA coalition competing hard with each other to lure the minority Muslims is trying all possible gimmicks to make them believe that it is their most trust-worthy saviour.
Of the many ludicrous tricks played by various politicians, probably the most outrageous is Lalu Prasad Yadav’s demand for change in the name of the capital of Bihar from Patna to Azimabad.
The reason cited by Lalu for the proposed change is that the last wish of former Assembly Speaker and RJD minister the late Ghulam Sarwar was to see Patna being known as Azimabad and Lalu wanted to see his wish being fulfilled. It is interesting to note that during his long tenure as the Chief Minister in Bihar, when he ruled the state directly or by proxy, Lalu made no efforts for the name change.
In fact, when in the late 1990s the then Speaker of the Bihar Assembly the late Dev Narayan Yadav had submitted a memorandum to Lalu for renaming Patna as Patliputra, Lalu had turned it down saying that the change of name of a city was an irrelevant issue.
The big question here is that how did the then irrelevant issue suddenly become relevant now? And what makes the wish of Ghulam Sarwar more valuable than that of Dev Narayan Yadav? Raising an issue when in the opposition is much easier than addressing it when in power.
But discrimination between two former Speakers, who are both no longer in this world, on the grounds of their religion is unpardonable. It is obvious that Ghulam Sarwar’s wish carries more weight because he was a Muslim, a minority that is especially privileged to have the first right to the country’s resources according to the Prime Minister.
Dev Narayan Yadav, on the other hand, was a Hindu, the majority which has been relegated to secondary position in its own land by the UPA government. The demand for Azimabad is absurd considering Patna’s history. From times immemorial and for the maximum period of its existence, Patna was known as Patliputra, a name that was associated with the city during the days of its prime glory.
Patliputra reached the pinnacle of prosperity when it was the capital of the great Mauryan kings, Chandragupta and Ashoka, the great men the present-day Biharis yearn to be identified with. There is an on-going campaign of the people of Bihar to rename Patna with its original name, Patliputra. On the other hand, Azimabad was the name given by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb at the request of his favourite grandson Prince Muhammad Azimush Shah in 1704 while the latter was the governor of Patna.
The common people however continued to call it Patna and the name Azimabad did not hold for long. Aurangzeb and Azimush Shah made no significant contributions to the history or culture of Patna, which the people of Bihar would like to cherish and be reminded of.
On the contrary, Aurangzeb continues to be one of the most despised rulers in the collective memory of the Indians, abhorred for his iconoclastic zeal. None other than the fraudulent communist historians can find any merit in his tyrannical rule.
Patna’s historical identity is primarily associated with the ancient times when it was the magnificent capital of India for centuries. The people of Bihar feel honoured that their land was the home to some of the greatest souls that ever lived, namely Mahavira, Gautam Buddha, Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya, and Ashoka.
Patna, as Patliputra, occupies a position of pride in the Bihari psyche. Azimabad, on the other hand, does not hold any relevance for an average Bihari. The proposal to change Patna’s name to Azimabad instead of Patliputra is a dirty joke played on the Bihari sentiment. There is a strong public sentiment in favour of renaming Allahabad as Prayag, Ahmedabad as Karnavati and Muzaffarnagar as Laxminagar.
The names Allahabad, Ahmedabad, Muzaffarnagar as well as Azimabad are the grim reminders of the dark oppressive periods of Indian history when the most inhuman atrocities were committed on Hindus.
Indians are under no obligation to carry the burden of the remnants of the periods of slavery. They would welcome reverting to the original nomenclature that is representative of the days of freedom. The reinstating of the ancient names of these cities indicates liberation from servitude.
The UPA coalition competing hard with each other to lure the minority Muslims is trying all possible gimmicks to make them believe that it is their most trust-worthy saviour.
Of the many ludicrous tricks played by various politicians, probably the most outrageous is Lalu Prasad Yadav’s demand for change in the name of the capital of Bihar from Patna to Azimabad.
The reason cited by Lalu for the proposed change is that the last wish of former Assembly Speaker and RJD minister the late Ghulam Sarwar was to see Patna being known as Azimabad and Lalu wanted to see his wish being fulfilled. It is interesting to note that during his long tenure as the Chief Minister in Bihar, when he ruled the state directly or by proxy, Lalu made no efforts for the name change.
In fact, when in the late 1990s the then Speaker of the Bihar Assembly the late Dev Narayan Yadav had submitted a memorandum to Lalu for renaming Patna as Patliputra, Lalu had turned it down saying that the change of name of a city was an irrelevant issue.
The big question here is that how did the then irrelevant issue suddenly become relevant now? And what makes the wish of Ghulam Sarwar more valuable than that of Dev Narayan Yadav? Raising an issue when in the opposition is much easier than addressing it when in power.
But discrimination between two former Speakers, who are both no longer in this world, on the grounds of their religion is unpardonable. It is obvious that Ghulam Sarwar’s wish carries more weight because he was a Muslim, a minority that is especially privileged to have the first right to the country’s resources according to the Prime Minister.
Dev Narayan Yadav, on the other hand, was a Hindu, the majority which has been relegated to secondary position in its own land by the UPA government. The demand for Azimabad is absurd considering Patna’s history. From times immemorial and for the maximum period of its existence, Patna was known as Patliputra, a name that was associated with the city during the days of its prime glory.
Patliputra reached the pinnacle of prosperity when it was the capital of the great Mauryan kings, Chandragupta and Ashoka, the great men the present-day Biharis yearn to be identified with. There is an on-going campaign of the people of Bihar to rename Patna with its original name, Patliputra. On the other hand, Azimabad was the name given by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb at the request of his favourite grandson Prince Muhammad Azimush Shah in 1704 while the latter was the governor of Patna.
The common people however continued to call it Patna and the name Azimabad did not hold for long. Aurangzeb and Azimush Shah made no significant contributions to the history or culture of Patna, which the people of Bihar would like to cherish and be reminded of.
On the contrary, Aurangzeb continues to be one of the most despised rulers in the collective memory of the Indians, abhorred for his iconoclastic zeal. None other than the fraudulent communist historians can find any merit in his tyrannical rule.
Patna’s historical identity is primarily associated with the ancient times when it was the magnificent capital of India for centuries. The people of Bihar feel honoured that their land was the home to some of the greatest souls that ever lived, namely Mahavira, Gautam Buddha, Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya, and Ashoka.
Patna, as Patliputra, occupies a position of pride in the Bihari psyche. Azimabad, on the other hand, does not hold any relevance for an average Bihari. The proposal to change Patna’s name to Azimabad instead of Patliputra is a dirty joke played on the Bihari sentiment. There is a strong public sentiment in favour of renaming Allahabad as Prayag, Ahmedabad as Karnavati and Muzaffarnagar as Laxminagar.
The names Allahabad, Ahmedabad, Muzaffarnagar as well as Azimabad are the grim reminders of the dark oppressive periods of Indian history when the most inhuman atrocities were committed on Hindus.
Indians are under no obligation to carry the burden of the remnants of the periods of slavery. They would welcome reverting to the original nomenclature that is representative of the days of freedom. The reinstating of the ancient names of these cities indicates liberation from servitude.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Stanford Univ to hold conference on Gen Y policy reforms
Acknowledging the change in the governance atmosphere of Bihar, Stanford University has decided to hold a 'Mirror Conference' in Patna for the first time.The two-day conference, beginning on Thursday, would not only reflect the format and intellectual debate at Stanford itself but also engage the Government in generating a meaningful dialogue on new-generation policy reforms.
It would also suggest further action for taking the development thrust to the next level.Addressing newsmen, NK Singh, vice chairman, State Planning Board, said that Stanford, which has been fostering a policy dialogue with Union Government over the years, realised the role of state governments in the pursuance and implementation of new-generation policy reforms and had started the practice of ‘Mirror Conferences’ at state levels four years ago.
These state-level dialogues have since been held with West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala and Rajasthan.Now, at the invitation of the State Government, Stanford Centre for International Development would be holding the ‘Mirror Conference’ in Bihar, which would also serve as a prelude to the Eighth Annual Conference of Indian Economic Reforms at Stanford slated in June, informed Singh.
“The conference, to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, would re-establish Patna on the intellectual map of the world, as leading academics such as Prof TN Srinivasan, Dr Nicholas Hope, Ms Anjini Kochar, Dr Ward Hanson, Prof Jessica Wallack would be presenting specialised papers on Bihar’s economic strategy,” Singh said.
To a question on whether the dialogue would be able to address Bihar-specific problems, Singh said that Stanford University was aware of the aspirations of the State as reflected in the Approach Paper to the Eleventh Five Year Plan and would deal with issues like employment, poverty and public – private partnership, lessons from Chinese economic growth and also the challenges to the federal model of growth.
The Chief Minister, said Singh, would hold personal interaction with the participants while senior ministers and department officials concerned would also be present.Chief Secretary A K Chaudhary said, "The conference should be looked upon as an effort towards further accelerating growth."
S Vijayaraghvan, IDC, said that since June 2006, when the State showcased various opportunities available and highlighted the changed investment climate sustained by enabling legislations, as many as 85 proposals worth Rs 36,000 crore have been cleared by the State Investment Promotion Board. "The state hopes to generate 75,000 direct and nearly 3 lakh indirect employment through these investments," he added.
It would also suggest further action for taking the development thrust to the next level.Addressing newsmen, NK Singh, vice chairman, State Planning Board, said that Stanford, which has been fostering a policy dialogue with Union Government over the years, realised the role of state governments in the pursuance and implementation of new-generation policy reforms and had started the practice of ‘Mirror Conferences’ at state levels four years ago.
These state-level dialogues have since been held with West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala and Rajasthan.Now, at the invitation of the State Government, Stanford Centre for International Development would be holding the ‘Mirror Conference’ in Bihar, which would also serve as a prelude to the Eighth Annual Conference of Indian Economic Reforms at Stanford slated in June, informed Singh.
“The conference, to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, would re-establish Patna on the intellectual map of the world, as leading academics such as Prof TN Srinivasan, Dr Nicholas Hope, Ms Anjini Kochar, Dr Ward Hanson, Prof Jessica Wallack would be presenting specialised papers on Bihar’s economic strategy,” Singh said.
To a question on whether the dialogue would be able to address Bihar-specific problems, Singh said that Stanford University was aware of the aspirations of the State as reflected in the Approach Paper to the Eleventh Five Year Plan and would deal with issues like employment, poverty and public – private partnership, lessons from Chinese economic growth and also the challenges to the federal model of growth.
The Chief Minister, said Singh, would hold personal interaction with the participants while senior ministers and department officials concerned would also be present.Chief Secretary A K Chaudhary said, "The conference should be looked upon as an effort towards further accelerating growth."
S Vijayaraghvan, IDC, said that since June 2006, when the State showcased various opportunities available and highlighted the changed investment climate sustained by enabling legislations, as many as 85 proposals worth Rs 36,000 crore have been cleared by the State Investment Promotion Board. "The state hopes to generate 75,000 direct and nearly 3 lakh indirect employment through these investments," he added.
Bindeshwar Pathak to receive Energy Globe Award
The pioneer of the sanitation movement in India, Bindeshwar Pathak, will receive the Energy Globe Award in the hemicycle (debating chamber) of the European Parliament at Brussels on April 11.
This world body has selected him for his notable contribution in making `environment that is worthy to live'.
The Energy Globe Award is presented to projects that make careful use of resources and employ alternative energy sources. Every year, about 700 projects from all over the world compete for it.
The award is given to pioneers who come out with ideas and projects that can reduce environmental pollution and seek to check global environmental degradation.
Wolfgang Neumann, disturbed over rapid deterioration of environment taking place the world over, instituted this award seven years back. The winning projects are classified under five categories: earth, fire, water, air and youth.
Pathak, a Padma Bhushan, has been chosen for the biogas plants - linked to Sulabh toilets - he had designed over three decades ago and have now become synonymous with sanitation in developing countries.
A distinctive feature of Pathak's project lies in producing odour-free biogas and release of clean water rich in phosphorous and other ingredients, which are important constituents of organic manure.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest Human Development Report has already appreciated the Sulabh technology in the field of low cost toilet systems. The report says that Sulabh has emerged as one of the world's largest non-governmental providers of sanitation facilities.
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in his latest book "Mission India" has also mentioned the contribution of Pathak and his Sulabh International in the field of sanitation and liberating manual scavengers from carrying night soil.
This world body has selected him for his notable contribution in making `environment that is worthy to live'.
The Energy Globe Award is presented to projects that make careful use of resources and employ alternative energy sources. Every year, about 700 projects from all over the world compete for it.
The award is given to pioneers who come out with ideas and projects that can reduce environmental pollution and seek to check global environmental degradation.
Wolfgang Neumann, disturbed over rapid deterioration of environment taking place the world over, instituted this award seven years back. The winning projects are classified under five categories: earth, fire, water, air and youth.
Pathak, a Padma Bhushan, has been chosen for the biogas plants - linked to Sulabh toilets - he had designed over three decades ago and have now become synonymous with sanitation in developing countries.
A distinctive feature of Pathak's project lies in producing odour-free biogas and release of clean water rich in phosphorous and other ingredients, which are important constituents of organic manure.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest Human Development Report has already appreciated the Sulabh technology in the field of low cost toilet systems. The report says that Sulabh has emerged as one of the world's largest non-governmental providers of sanitation facilities.
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in his latest book "Mission India" has also mentioned the contribution of Pathak and his Sulabh International in the field of sanitation and liberating manual scavengers from carrying night soil.
Meet Bihar’s new furry invigilators
It’s getting very strange in Mr Nitish Kumar’s Bihar these days. While western countries are fast taking recourse to robots, Bihar is turning to their canine friends. In a bizarre move, dogs have been given the job of invigilators in the ongoing Degree Part III examinations being conducted by Patna University.
According to reports, some sniffer dogs have been pressed into service to detect objectionable materials that examinees appearing at different examination centres may possess.
The examinations began here yesterday. Reports said the new furry, tail -wagging invigilators walked up and down the rows of examinees and tried to sniff out chits believed to have been carried by them.
The movement of the dogs inside the examination hall caused much inconvenience to the examinees. Prohibited materials though were searched by the sniffer dogs, reports said.
According to Patna University officials, they had to take recourse to this rather unusual way of keeping tabs on unscrupulous examinees since the state police administration did not respond to their demands of deploying adequate police force at the examination centres. Subsequently, they enlisted the services of a private security agency that deployed sniffer dogs to root out cheating at the examination centres.
Over 7,000 examinees were appearing at the ongoing examinations being conducted at various examination centres, officials said. Only a week ago, the state police administration issued a new directive asking all the district superintendents of police and deputy inspector generals to deploy street dogs at all police stations and outposts to prevent extremist attacks.
The logic behind the ploy is that dogs have a terrific sense of smell that has proved invaluable in detection of suspicious movement. Street dogs had helped the cops posted at two different police
stations in Bihar’s Gaya district to protect themselves from Naxal attacks twice in the past.
According to reports, some sniffer dogs have been pressed into service to detect objectionable materials that examinees appearing at different examination centres may possess.
The examinations began here yesterday. Reports said the new furry, tail -wagging invigilators walked up and down the rows of examinees and tried to sniff out chits believed to have been carried by them.
The movement of the dogs inside the examination hall caused much inconvenience to the examinees. Prohibited materials though were searched by the sniffer dogs, reports said.
According to Patna University officials, they had to take recourse to this rather unusual way of keeping tabs on unscrupulous examinees since the state police administration did not respond to their demands of deploying adequate police force at the examination centres. Subsequently, they enlisted the services of a private security agency that deployed sniffer dogs to root out cheating at the examination centres.
Over 7,000 examinees were appearing at the ongoing examinations being conducted at various examination centres, officials said. Only a week ago, the state police administration issued a new directive asking all the district superintendents of police and deputy inspector generals to deploy street dogs at all police stations and outposts to prevent extremist attacks.
The logic behind the ploy is that dogs have a terrific sense of smell that has proved invaluable in detection of suspicious movement. Street dogs had helped the cops posted at two different police
stations in Bihar’s Gaya district to protect themselves from Naxal attacks twice in the past.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Bihar heading for fast-track development
A few years back, during an election campaign in North Bihar, a handful of villagers stopped RJD supremo Lalu Prasad’s cavalcade and complained to him, “Despite your raj (rule) for more than a decade, our village road has not been constructed yet.”
An unfazed Lalu, in his inimitable style, offered an impromptu reply: “I could have done so. But the day your road is constructed, even the police jeep can reach your doorstep.” Alarmed over the threat from men-in-uniform, and convinced by Lalu’s logic, the villagers preferred not to question him again on the development front.
That was Lalu in the late 90s and early years of this century. But after power slipped out of his hands after a painful but decisive rejection by an electorate which had him eating out of their hands, it was a wake-up call for the man who used to boast that he had a 20-year-agreement with his voters to rule Bihar.
Uprooted from his bastion in 15 years, the regional chieftain lost no time in realising that he can’t fool all the people all the time. Somewhere down the line, the development work had to be undertaken. And what better opportunity than lording over the India’s largest public sector undertaking, the Indian Railways, and doling out one sop after another to his home State.
An electric locomotive manufacturing unit in Madhepura (his ex-constituency) at an estimated cost of Rs 1,294 crore; a diesel locomotive manufacturing factory at Marhaura near Chapra (his constituency) at a cost of Rs 2,025 crore; and a high-axle load wagon bogie manufacturing unit at Dalmianagar in Rohtas, Lalu got a plethora of railway projects sanctioned. Besides, a vast railway network is likely to spread across the Mithilanchal and Kosi belt in North Bihar which had been bereft of the largesse since ages.
Even Patna’s connectivity with far-flung places like Pune, Ahmedabad, Udaipur and Bangalore increased, not to talk of Garib Raths and increased frequency of several super-fast trains, including Rajdhani.
With the coming up of so many trains in one budget after another, it was quite obvious that to cope with the fresh demands, the Railways needed to manufacture diesel and electric engines for hauling new passengers and goods trains.
At present, the Railways have two locomotive factories located at Varanasi in UP (diesel engine) and Chitranjan in West Bengal (electric engine). According to one estimate, an electric engine costs Rs 10 crore, while the manufacturing of a diesel engine costs about Rs 4 crore.
But with the coming up of two separate East and West Freight Corridor at an estimated cost of Rs 28,181 crore, the three factories at Madhepura, Marhaura and Dehri-On-Sone need to become operational as early as possible. The coming up of these units would not only generate employment for the people here but also improve the socio-economic condition of the State.
Lalu, who till recently was accused of failing Bihar throughout his rule, has, of late, through a slew of measures, been giving the impression of competing with the State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and thereby trying to cultivate an image of Vikas Purush, an acronym used for the JD (U) strongman.
Not to be overshadowed, Nitish, too, is going into overdrive so far as development of the State is concerned. Establishment of rule of the law was the first priority. That being done, he ensured the empowerment of women through 50 per cent reservation of seats for them in the panchayat elections.
In the pipeline are the appointment of 2.5 lakhs primary teachers, constables/sub-inspectors, doctors, retired CBI personnel (for Vigilance Department) and further recruitment of ex-armymen in auxiliary police.
Besides, Nitish too has unveiled projects worth several crores across the State, including establishment of the Chanakya Law University and announcing the opening of engineering and medical colleges in Nalanda, Madhepura and Bettiah.
In a valiant attempt to upstage each other, it’s Bihar which, at the end of the day, is the biggest beneficiary of the Lalu-Nitish rivalry. For, politics notwithstanding, development seems to have become the core issue in the State which, earlier, hit the headlines more for the wrong reasons.
An unfazed Lalu, in his inimitable style, offered an impromptu reply: “I could have done so. But the day your road is constructed, even the police jeep can reach your doorstep.” Alarmed over the threat from men-in-uniform, and convinced by Lalu’s logic, the villagers preferred not to question him again on the development front.
That was Lalu in the late 90s and early years of this century. But after power slipped out of his hands after a painful but decisive rejection by an electorate which had him eating out of their hands, it was a wake-up call for the man who used to boast that he had a 20-year-agreement with his voters to rule Bihar.
Uprooted from his bastion in 15 years, the regional chieftain lost no time in realising that he can’t fool all the people all the time. Somewhere down the line, the development work had to be undertaken. And what better opportunity than lording over the India’s largest public sector undertaking, the Indian Railways, and doling out one sop after another to his home State.
An electric locomotive manufacturing unit in Madhepura (his ex-constituency) at an estimated cost of Rs 1,294 crore; a diesel locomotive manufacturing factory at Marhaura near Chapra (his constituency) at a cost of Rs 2,025 crore; and a high-axle load wagon bogie manufacturing unit at Dalmianagar in Rohtas, Lalu got a plethora of railway projects sanctioned. Besides, a vast railway network is likely to spread across the Mithilanchal and Kosi belt in North Bihar which had been bereft of the largesse since ages.
Even Patna’s connectivity with far-flung places like Pune, Ahmedabad, Udaipur and Bangalore increased, not to talk of Garib Raths and increased frequency of several super-fast trains, including Rajdhani.
With the coming up of so many trains in one budget after another, it was quite obvious that to cope with the fresh demands, the Railways needed to manufacture diesel and electric engines for hauling new passengers and goods trains.
At present, the Railways have two locomotive factories located at Varanasi in UP (diesel engine) and Chitranjan in West Bengal (electric engine). According to one estimate, an electric engine costs Rs 10 crore, while the manufacturing of a diesel engine costs about Rs 4 crore.
But with the coming up of two separate East and West Freight Corridor at an estimated cost of Rs 28,181 crore, the three factories at Madhepura, Marhaura and Dehri-On-Sone need to become operational as early as possible. The coming up of these units would not only generate employment for the people here but also improve the socio-economic condition of the State.
Lalu, who till recently was accused of failing Bihar throughout his rule, has, of late, through a slew of measures, been giving the impression of competing with the State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and thereby trying to cultivate an image of Vikas Purush, an acronym used for the JD (U) strongman.
Not to be overshadowed, Nitish, too, is going into overdrive so far as development of the State is concerned. Establishment of rule of the law was the first priority. That being done, he ensured the empowerment of women through 50 per cent reservation of seats for them in the panchayat elections.
In the pipeline are the appointment of 2.5 lakhs primary teachers, constables/sub-inspectors, doctors, retired CBI personnel (for Vigilance Department) and further recruitment of ex-armymen in auxiliary police.
Besides, Nitish too has unveiled projects worth several crores across the State, including establishment of the Chanakya Law University and announcing the opening of engineering and medical colleges in Nalanda, Madhepura and Bettiah.
In a valiant attempt to upstage each other, it’s Bihar which, at the end of the day, is the biggest beneficiary of the Lalu-Nitish rivalry. For, politics notwithstanding, development seems to have become the core issue in the State which, earlier, hit the headlines more for the wrong reasons.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Interview with Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar.
Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar.MUCH is expected of the Nitish Kumar government. Predictably, the Bihar Chief Minister is a man in a hurry. He knows the groundswell of goodwill that his government enjoys is not going to last very long.
On January 24, Nitish Kumar's schedule was fully occupied by the celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Bihar's champion of social justice and former Chief Minister, Karpoori Thakur.
He launched a slew of welfare programmes at Karpoorigram in Samastipur district. Later in the evening, at his residence in Patna he gave an hour-long interview to Frontline. Before settling down, he spoke about the "enormous burden of expectations" he has to bear.
He said, "I fear that the people will not forgive me if I do not deliver at least a fraction of what they expect from me."
In this interview he speaks about his government's plans for the transformation of Bihar, particularly the plans to improve social services such as health and education and the public distribution system.
However, his sharpest comments are reserved for the manner in which the Union government estimates poverty. While the Centre's poverty estimates have been contested by academics, Nitish Kumar's is the strongest indictment coming from a non-Left political leader. Excerpts:
Has the meet helped?
This was meant to be a forum where all those interested in Bihar's development could discuss issues. It has been a successful meet. New ideas have emerged and a realistic assessment of Bihar's potential has been made, apart from highlighting the initiatives taken by the State government.
We have taken the meet seriously. We have already started working on some of the proposals and suggestions discussed at the meet.
Bihar has a huge backlog of underdevelopment, particularly in the area of the delivery of services such as education and health.
In your speech at Karpoorigram today, you mentioned some of the problems relating to the working of the public distribution system [PDS] and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme [NREGS] in the State.In particular, you referred to the problems that the State faces because of the way the Centre has structured these schemes and programmes.
As far as education is concerned, we have told the Centre that the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan [SSA] must be extended to the secondary level. We have also said that the Centre must provide 100 per cent funding for the programme. Currently, the Centre funds it to the extent of 75 per cent but is planning to reduce the funding to 50 per cent. We vehemently oppose the move. I raised the issue at the meeting of the National Development Council. The Centre can call it by whatever name it chooses, but it must expand the scheme.
There is a shortage of good-quality centres of higher education in Bihar. We do not have any IIT [Indian Institute of Technology] here. In the field of education Bihar needs a lot of assistance from the Centre.
Of course, we have initiated moves with our own resources. But we also need help.
We have initiated a massive enrolment of teachers in schools. But we also need to improve the infrastructure in schools.
We need more classrooms in schools, and although the Centre is providing a portion of the funds for these, we have to invest substantial amounts on our own. We have also asked the Centre when it plans to proceed with making the idea of common [neighbourhood] schools a reality.
We have instituted a commission headed by Muchkund Dubey [former Foreign Secretary] to explore ways to implement this in Bihar. If we do not do this, what right do we have to talk about an egalitarian society? How can a child who from day one is only exposed to disparities grow up with egalitarian values?
In fact, if we want to achieve inclusive growth, which is the theme of the Eleventh Plan, we need to reform the school system. More importantly, the Centre must make strenuous efforts to implement, in letter and spirit, the right to education.
But does the State not suffer from lack of financial resources?
This is necessary to remove the dichotomy between government-run and privately run schools. I shall cite an example to show what we are doing. Children in private schools go on tours to visit places of historical interest. For the first time in Bihar, we have given grants to government-run schools to take children on educational tours.
We are also taking measures to provide sports facilities, including playgrounds, to these schools so that children undergo all-round development.
In Patna, there is a mushroom growth of privately run teaching shops.
There is never going to be a vacuum. When the government does not provide basic facilities, there is bound to be an explosion of privately run schools, which are often of poor quality.
There is never going to be a vacuum. When the government does not provide basic facilities, there is bound to be an explosion of privately run schools, which are often of poor quality.
When we implement the `common school' concept, both private and government schools will have a role to play. Meanwhile, we will ensure that the government schools give a tough competition to private schools.
We are planning to establish a model high school in each district. These schools will be for both boys and girls and will be completely residential. Children will compete for admission to these schools. These schools will offer a stiff challenge to private schools.
We are also planning to extend the midday meal scheme to all children up to Class V. The government is working on a scheme to provide bicycles to all girls in schools.
The problem of illiteracy is acute in Bihar, particularly among girls. Our move to reserve 50 per cent of the seats in local representative bodies has resulted in tremendous enthusiasm among women to do more for education.
Politicians realise that they have to meet this growing aspiration for education. Otherwise, the people will curse us.
Bihar is also backward in the area of health coverage. What are the new initiatives?
We are supplying medicines free of cost to people. Initially, we started with 13 drugs but we are expanding the list of drugs that are supplied free. We are supplying generic drugs because they are cheaper but just as effective as branded drugs. This is not a small thing. We are supplying anti-rabies and anti-venom drugs in the PHCs [primary health centres], which has saved quite a few lives in rural Bihar.
We have deployed all doctors in government service in the PHCs and additional PHCs. We are in the process of recruiting more doctors, but meanwhile we have employed doctors on contract.
We are also using modern technologies to facilitate better monitoring of these facilities. For a start, we have provided all PHCs with a landline connection, so that anybody can call the centre and receive a proper response from health care providers.
If the calls remain unanswered, it means that those who ought to be at work are not available to the public. This is what I mean by automatic monitoring by the public. This is why we have not provided mobile phones (laughs).
In July 2006, we launched a scheme to provide computers at the PHCs. This will ensure the compilation of a database on morbidity patterns, the kind of drugs given to patients and other vital information.
The data will be freely available to the public. This will ensure transparency. In about a month this data will be available to everybody. Things have begun to work in Bihar.
While speaking at Karpoorigram, you said that there were grave shortcomings in the Centre's approach towards the targeted public distribution system [TPDS]. What are these and how do you plan to handle them?
The Centre has to answer for the mess it has created by the systematic exclusion of large numbers of the poor from the TPDS. Following instructions issued by the Centre, we have done a household survey to identify those below the poverty line. Using a 16-parameter scale to identify BPL families, there are about 85 lakh families in rural Bihar below the poverty line; there would be another 15 lakh families in urban areas. But the Planning Commission wants us to use a 13-parameter scale, which will imply that 75 lakh families are below the poverty line.
But what should the scale be?
A 13-parameter scale will yield a poverty line that corresponds to a bare minimum level of living. This will not be a poverty line but an index of utter wretchedness in which humans can barely survive.
This is why we decided to launch the coupon system from January 26, which will provide basic necessities such as foodgrains and kerosene to all the people we have enumerated to be below the poverty line, using the 16-parameter scale.
There is no scheme of the Union government that provides universal coverage. Having cut coverage by terming it as a "targeted" programme, it now wants to whittle it down even more. That is not acceptable to us.
Each Department at the Centre has its own "estimate" of the poverty level in Bihar.
Each Department at the Centre has its own "estimate" of the poverty level in Bihar.
The Department of Food says that our entitlement is for only 50 lakh families, whereas by the 13-parameter scale there are 75 lakh families that will be below the poverty line.
Last week, the Ministry of Rural Development informed us that 66 lakh families lived below the poverty line in Bihar. This Ministry appears to be more liberal because its Indira Awaas Yojana [a rural housing programme] does not have universal coverage.
We had decided to implement the coupon system so that every poor family that is entitled to essentials actually draws supplies from the local ration shop.
But we now find that the Centre will supply only for 50 lakh families. We have to make our own efforts to supply the remaining 25 lakh. We have decided to supply coupons to all 75 lakh families.
What will be the financial implication for the State?
We will incur a subsidy of about Rs.30 crores for one lakh families, implying an additional expenditure of about Rs.750 crores for 25 lakh families. All this talk of poverty alleviation in Delhi is hogwash.
I intend taking the issue to its logical end. I am determined to bring the whole issue of the poverty line to public attention so that we can as a nation decide in a transparent manner how we are going to determine who is a poor person. This is bound to become a public issue.
Or, let the Union government state openly that it is not willing to supply foodgrains at subsidised rates to all the poor people in this country.
The Planning Commission uses National Sample Survey data to determine poverty, which has created a furore even among academics. Instead, we have done a household survey.
Tell me, which is more accurate? A sample survey or a household survey that has been done throughout the State? Remember, even the household survey was done on the basis of guidelines laid down by the Centre.
But when it comes to implementing the programme, it backs away from its responsibilities. The Union government's assessment of the number of poor people in this country is way off the mark. It is logically flawed. But even more important, it is unfair to the poor.
What kind of problems does the State face in implementing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act?
There are lots of problems in Bihar. Each State is supposed to pay at least the minimum wage to those working under the programme. But everything in Bihar has been dormant for the past 15 years.
The minimum wage here has not been revised regularly. The other problem pertains to how much manual labour a human being can do without impairing his health. I know people are getting less than their due. Unfortunately, all this takes a lot of time because it is part of a Central law.
There are problems also in the selection of schemes. First, gram panchayats are to select schemes. Then these are to be sent to the zilla parishads for approval.
Why should this be so? Why can gram panchayats not implement schemes after selecting them? Only inter-panchayat schemes need go to the zilla parishad for approval. People have to get their job cards made and then file applications seeking work.
The entire programme has been bureaucratised, which defeats the very purpose of the programme. But we also recognise the potential for transforming Bihar. That is why although the Centre selected only 23 districts in the State, we decided that the programme would be implemented in all the districts.
I went to some villages near Patna. People complained that the work is very difficult...
Workers are expected to remove 110 cubic feet of earth in a day. That is too much work. The guidelines have been fixed in Delhi; the States have had no say in determining work norms.
The authorities in Delhi blindly tell us to allot earthwork without understanding that this is not possible everywhere. In several districts in Bihar, such work is not possible at all.
We are trying to resolve these problems, but it is taking time. We are also trying to make the muster roll as transparent as possible.
But I realise that the people who will benefit from this programme are also my target group. For these people, governance means getting foodgrains and kerosene on a regular basis and in time.
Good governance also means getting decent work at a decent wage rate, education for children and minimum levels of health care. Above all, it also means that people will not be exploited because they belong to a lower caste. If we deliver on these promises, desperate Biharis need not risk their lives to migrate far away from home in search of a livelihood.
ONGC eyes Bihar for oil exploration
Bihar is now poised to emerge as one of India’s next major destinations for oil and natural gas reserves.
After British exploration giant Cairn Energy Search Ltd (CESL), it is now the turn of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to start exploration for crude reserves in the economically backward state.
Speaking to Business Standard on Tuesday, the state’s Energy Minister Brijendra Prasad Yadav said ONGC would shortly seek a no-objection-certificate (NOC) for exploration of crude oil reserves in the Purnia basin.
“We are eager to grant the NOC to ONGC. There would be no delay in granting it as the bureaucratic system in the state is now all prepared to complete the necessary paper work fast,” said the minister.
“We are ready to provide them support for the project to go through smoothly,” he added.
Yadav said there is a “huge possibility” of the presence of large quantities of petroleum and natural gas reserves in the eastern district of Purnia.
“A survey conducted by the directorate of hydro-carbon a few years back had left enough indications about the bountiful reserves in the district. We are hopeful about the ONGC exploration. If it proves fruitful, the state would witness a major turnaround,” he said.
Two months back, the Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy was commissioned for the first phase of exploration of a 15,500 sq km area in Bihar's Ganga basin. Cairn Energy has been granted a seven-year licence for the Purnia basin comprising 13 districts.
The company's proposal, submitted two years back, was delayed due to various technical reasons. “It had to be cleared by the Ministry of Defence, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Atomic Energy Department,” said Yadav.
“Cairn's aero-magnetic survey of the identified areas under the order of the central government has already pointed towards the presence of oil reserves in the basin. Cairn Energy has already started identifying the exact locations where they require deep boring to reach the layers of natural gas and petroleum reserves,” said the minister.
He appreciated the “keen interest” shown by the Centre in the crude survey work in the state.
Reserves in the Purnia basin may well be about 465 million tonnes of crude and natural gas, said a source in the mining department of Bihar.
After British exploration giant Cairn Energy Search Ltd (CESL), it is now the turn of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to start exploration for crude reserves in the economically backward state.
Speaking to Business Standard on Tuesday, the state’s Energy Minister Brijendra Prasad Yadav said ONGC would shortly seek a no-objection-certificate (NOC) for exploration of crude oil reserves in the Purnia basin.
“We are eager to grant the NOC to ONGC. There would be no delay in granting it as the bureaucratic system in the state is now all prepared to complete the necessary paper work fast,” said the minister.
“We are ready to provide them support for the project to go through smoothly,” he added.
Yadav said there is a “huge possibility” of the presence of large quantities of petroleum and natural gas reserves in the eastern district of Purnia.
“A survey conducted by the directorate of hydro-carbon a few years back had left enough indications about the bountiful reserves in the district. We are hopeful about the ONGC exploration. If it proves fruitful, the state would witness a major turnaround,” he said.
Two months back, the Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy was commissioned for the first phase of exploration of a 15,500 sq km area in Bihar's Ganga basin. Cairn Energy has been granted a seven-year licence for the Purnia basin comprising 13 districts.
The company's proposal, submitted two years back, was delayed due to various technical reasons. “It had to be cleared by the Ministry of Defence, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Atomic Energy Department,” said Yadav.
“Cairn's aero-magnetic survey of the identified areas under the order of the central government has already pointed towards the presence of oil reserves in the basin. Cairn Energy has already started identifying the exact locations where they require deep boring to reach the layers of natural gas and petroleum reserves,” said the minister.
He appreciated the “keen interest” shown by the Centre in the crude survey work in the state.
Reserves in the Purnia basin may well be about 465 million tonnes of crude and natural gas, said a source in the mining department of Bihar.
ONGC eyes Bihar for oil exploration
Bihar is now poised to emerge as one of India’s next major destinations for oil and natural gas reserves.
After British exploration giant Cairn Energy Search Ltd (CESL), it is now the turn of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to start exploration for crude reserves in the economically backward state.
Speaking to Business Standard on Tuesday, the state’s Energy Minister Brijendra Prasad Yadav said ONGC would shortly seek a no-objection-certificate (NOC) for exploration of crude oil reserves in the Purnia basin.
“We are eager to grant the NOC to ONGC. There would be no delay in granting it as the bureaucratic system in the state is now all prepared to complete the necessary paper work fast,” said the minister.
“We are ready to provide them support for the project to go through smoothly,” he added.
Yadav said there is a “huge possibility” of the presence of large quantities of petroleum and natural gas reserves in the eastern district of Purnia.
“A survey conducted by the directorate of hydro-carbon a few years back had left enough indications about the bountiful reserves in the district. We are hopeful about the ONGC exploration. If it proves fruitful, the state would witness a major turnaround,” he said.
Two months back, the Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy was commissioned for the first phase of exploration of a 15,500 sq km area in Bihar's Ganga basin. Cairn Energy has been granted a seven-year licence for the Purnia basin comprising 13 districts.
The company's proposal, submitted two years back, was delayed due to various technical reasons. “It had to be cleared by the Ministry of Defence, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Atomic Energy Department,” said Yadav.
“Cairn's aero-magnetic survey of the identified areas under the order of the central government has already pointed towards the presence of oil reserves in the basin. Cairn Energy has already started identifying the exact locations where they require deep boring to reach the layers of natural gas and petroleum reserves,” said the minister.
He appreciated the “keen interest” shown by the Centre in the crude survey work in the state.
Reserves in the Purnia basin may well be about 465 million tonnes of crude and natural gas, said a source in the mining department of Bihar.
After British exploration giant Cairn Energy Search Ltd (CESL), it is now the turn of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to start exploration for crude reserves in the economically backward state.
Speaking to Business Standard on Tuesday, the state’s Energy Minister Brijendra Prasad Yadav said ONGC would shortly seek a no-objection-certificate (NOC) for exploration of crude oil reserves in the Purnia basin.
“We are eager to grant the NOC to ONGC. There would be no delay in granting it as the bureaucratic system in the state is now all prepared to complete the necessary paper work fast,” said the minister.
“We are ready to provide them support for the project to go through smoothly,” he added.
Yadav said there is a “huge possibility” of the presence of large quantities of petroleum and natural gas reserves in the eastern district of Purnia.
“A survey conducted by the directorate of hydro-carbon a few years back had left enough indications about the bountiful reserves in the district. We are hopeful about the ONGC exploration. If it proves fruitful, the state would witness a major turnaround,” he said.
Two months back, the Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy was commissioned for the first phase of exploration of a 15,500 sq km area in Bihar's Ganga basin. Cairn Energy has been granted a seven-year licence for the Purnia basin comprising 13 districts.
The company's proposal, submitted two years back, was delayed due to various technical reasons. “It had to be cleared by the Ministry of Defence, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Atomic Energy Department,” said Yadav.
“Cairn's aero-magnetic survey of the identified areas under the order of the central government has already pointed towards the presence of oil reserves in the basin. Cairn Energy has already started identifying the exact locations where they require deep boring to reach the layers of natural gas and petroleum reserves,” said the minister.
He appreciated the “keen interest” shown by the Centre in the crude survey work in the state.
Reserves in the Purnia basin may well be about 465 million tonnes of crude and natural gas, said a source in the mining department of Bihar.
Literacy empowers women in Bihar
India’s Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) used a new system by making local administrators and community organisations – not central bureaucrats – responsible for implementation. What has been TLC’s lasting impact on the women who administered the programme, worked as volunteer teachers and were taught literacy and numeracy skills. In 2002, ten years after the TLC ended in India, a study assessed its legacy in the Begusarai District of Bihar, a state where there are strong cultural limitations on women’s independence and rights.
The researcher found that by getting large numbers of local people involved, this had offered women unique opportunities to escape social constraints and sexual segregation – essentially to ‘come out of purdah’. Across India, the TLC prepared ten million voluntary trainers for 68 million people in literacy skills in basic reading, writing, and numeracy.
Courses were designed to gain these skills in 200 hours. TLC was implemented in Begusarai by the local branch of a national non-governmental organisation (NGO) – Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS) – which works on a range of women’s education, health and livelihoods issues.
BGVS registered 246,000 women and 188,000 men for classes in the 1,100 district villages. As classes for women and men had to be organised separately, over 16,000 women were recruited as teachers.
BGVS played an important role in Begusarai by questioning social constraints on women’s participation in public life. Key findings from interviews with former participants are that: Most organisers were university graduates from upper caste families that own land.
Teaching volunteers – required to have completed at least 8 years of formal schooling – were mostly unmarried women: unlike the women they taught, hardly any were from scheduled (lower) castes. Organisers and volunteers did not earn any income, but were compensated in other ways, including recognition and responsibility in public.
Often, for lower caste women visiting upper caste areas to participate in BGVS activities was going against social limitations: many risked physical and mental abuse to do so. Discrimination based on location, caste, and gender still restricts the women of Begusarai.
The district’s female literacy rate for 2001 of 36 percent is significantly below the national average of 64.4 percent. However, many local women continue with activities related to the TLC’s Post-Literacy Phase –
publishing a local newspaper, running libraries, savings and other self-help groups and supplementary classes to increase school enrolment. The TLC experience in Begusarai suggests that: Female literacy programmes should not be evaluated simply in terms of how many women use new reading and writing skills in their daily lives. To appreciate the 'empowering' potential of literacy campaigns requires understanding the different roles performed by women, the struggles they face and how they overcome them.
As former volunteers develop from adolescence to womanhood and move away from their home, it will be important to re-interview them to assess how these changes continue
The researcher found that by getting large numbers of local people involved, this had offered women unique opportunities to escape social constraints and sexual segregation – essentially to ‘come out of purdah’. Across India, the TLC prepared ten million voluntary trainers for 68 million people in literacy skills in basic reading, writing, and numeracy.
Courses were designed to gain these skills in 200 hours. TLC was implemented in Begusarai by the local branch of a national non-governmental organisation (NGO) – Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS) – which works on a range of women’s education, health and livelihoods issues.
BGVS registered 246,000 women and 188,000 men for classes in the 1,100 district villages. As classes for women and men had to be organised separately, over 16,000 women were recruited as teachers.
BGVS played an important role in Begusarai by questioning social constraints on women’s participation in public life. Key findings from interviews with former participants are that: Most organisers were university graduates from upper caste families that own land.
Teaching volunteers – required to have completed at least 8 years of formal schooling – were mostly unmarried women: unlike the women they taught, hardly any were from scheduled (lower) castes. Organisers and volunteers did not earn any income, but were compensated in other ways, including recognition and responsibility in public.
Often, for lower caste women visiting upper caste areas to participate in BGVS activities was going against social limitations: many risked physical and mental abuse to do so. Discrimination based on location, caste, and gender still restricts the women of Begusarai.
The district’s female literacy rate for 2001 of 36 percent is significantly below the national average of 64.4 percent. However, many local women continue with activities related to the TLC’s Post-Literacy Phase –
publishing a local newspaper, running libraries, savings and other self-help groups and supplementary classes to increase school enrolment. The TLC experience in Begusarai suggests that: Female literacy programmes should not be evaluated simply in terms of how many women use new reading and writing skills in their daily lives. To appreciate the 'empowering' potential of literacy campaigns requires understanding the different roles performed by women, the struggles they face and how they overcome them.
As former volunteers develop from adolescence to womanhood and move away from their home, it will be important to re-interview them to assess how these changes continue
Bihar's NIC awarded by Centrre for developing e-khazana software
The Centre has awarded Bihar's National Informatics Centre (NIC) with a national award for e-governance for developing the e-khazana software for computerising the budget, treasuries and provident funds in the state.
Talking to reporters here, state Science and Technology Minister Anil Kumar and NIC's senior Technology Director Saurabh Gupta said the Union Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Department selected the centre for the award for "excellence in government process re-engineering" that was given to its officials at a national conference in Bhopal on February two.
Kumar said the e-khazana software was coming in handy to check anarchy in the state finance department that had led to misappropriation of accounts and improper fund management.
The delay in submission of detailed monthly accounts to the AG was an extremely serious problem that has a number of consequences with serious impact on the overall planning of the government, he said.
He said the state government would fully cooperate with the NIC and allocate funds for computerisation in other sectors.
Talking to reporters here, state Science and Technology Minister Anil Kumar and NIC's senior Technology Director Saurabh Gupta said the Union Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Department selected the centre for the award for "excellence in government process re-engineering" that was given to its officials at a national conference in Bhopal on February two.
Kumar said the e-khazana software was coming in handy to check anarchy in the state finance department that had led to misappropriation of accounts and improper fund management.
The delay in submission of detailed monthly accounts to the AG was an extremely serious problem that has a number of consequences with serious impact on the overall planning of the government, he said.
He said the state government would fully cooperate with the NIC and allocate funds for computerisation in other sectors.
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