Reality in Bihar is changing

Reality in Bihar is changing
By Sri Nitish Kumar
Chief Minister , BIHAR

The Bihar polls held in February and the Bihar polls held in October offered, in fact, a study in contrast. In February, ’05, the mood was largely negative — a determination to get rid of the 15 years of misrule, but there was no clear perspective with regard to the future. In October, the mood shifted to the positive gear — now the masses were determined to bring in a new government for a definite change in Bihar. And it reflected in the results. In countless public meetings, we made development and good governance the focus of our campaign. We talked about specific programmes for specific sectors and specific areas. We also asked the people to judge us by our actions. We are doing all things possible to redeem that pledge, earnestly and sincerely. A solid foundation is being laid for the comprehensive development of Bihar. The new government inherited a Bihar in the grip of a vicious poor investment-poor infrastructure-poverty cycle. There was a public resource crunch, in a deadly combination with the administration’s lack of capacity to spend. Bihar’s debt-GSDP ratio today stands at around 62%. With 42% of the population below the poverty line, 48% literacy, only 10.3% households electrified, low Human Development Index and contradictions like floods in north Bihar and drought in south Bihar, the state presents the biggest development challenge in India. The present government is not at all intimidated by this challenge. Indeed, we have decided to convert it into an opportunity through hard work and political and administrative will. The government believes that once the wounded pride of Bihar is restored, the talented and hardworking people of Bihar will take the state on fast track in no time. We have to only remember that Bihar has the largest population of young people in India (58% of the population is below 25 years of age). Once the weaker sections, the backward classes, dalits and women are truly empowered there would be no looking back. In a very short span of seven months, the state government has taken a series of measures in augmenting resources for development, improving law and order, introducing fiscal and administrative reforms, e-governance, promoting investment, strengthening the Panchayat Raj institutions, infrastructure development and bold initiatives in the road, power, health and education sectors. Agriculture and water resource management has received serious attention. Employment generation is the focus of all the development initiatives.

Illustrating a few steps and initiatives should suffice to indicate the road of development and good governance that Bihar is taking. The national Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme has been extended to all the 38 districts and the cost of implementing it in 15 districts is being borne entirely by the state government. A large number of development related activities too have been transferred to PRIs. And yes, more and more funds are being made available to them.Infrastructure Development (Enabling) Act and Single Window Processing Act have already been enacted. Road connectivity is being prioritised with the launch of Mukhya Mantri Gramin Sadak Nirman Yojna that connects habitations with more than 500 people. About 2000 kms of state highways are being upgraded to National Standards. Mukhya Mantri Setu Nirman Yojna for building bridges across the state has been launched. Vacancies for primary and secondary teachers are being filled to bring the teacher-pupil ratio to 1:40. Around 2.36 lakhs teachers will be appointed in the next three months. The state government has taken up with the Centre the river-linking project in Bihar to tackle the problem of flood and drought simultaneously. Today, most essential medicines are being provided free-of-cost to patients in hospitals and PHCs. The list is endless. The government and the people of Bihar are determined. The image of Bihar is changing. The reality, too, in Bihar is changing. The list of medicines include costly ones like anti-rabies vaccine and anti-snake venom serum. Health infrastructure is being upgraded under public-private partnership. The setting up of AIIMS at Patna is being accelerated. Chanakya National Law University is going to start from this academic session.