is it TRUE ?????

Nitish wants Mittal in Bihar

Our Political Bureau / New Delhi March 30, 2006
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has decided to approach global steel majors, including Mittal Steel, and urge them to set up a steel plant in the state near its border with Jharkhand, close to Nawada.

Kumar has told The Indus Entrepreneurs, a global not-for-profit organisation focused on promoting entrepreneurship, that it should help in Bihar’s efforts to find a company that will invest in a steel plant.

Ramesh Yadava, a Silicon Valley professional, who is deeply interested in developing Bihar and was used by former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad as a pointsperson for the state in the US, is said to be exploring options, including approaching the Mittal group.

Bihar was denuded of its most important steel plants — at Jamshedpur and Bokaro — when the state was divided in 2000.

All the locational advantages because of which Bihar got two steel plants in the first place, accrued to Jharkhand. One of Bihar’s most important natural resources and ancillary industry was lost to Jharkhand.

Kumar, confiding in a group of non-resident Indian industrialists that visited Bihar a week ago, said the logic of locating steel plants near pit heads — which is why the plants have now gone to Jharkhand — was today obsolete.

Bihar RADIO man ' to' gets help from abroad

March 30, 2006By Imran Khan, Indo-Asian News ServicePatna, March 30 (IANS)

It is now the turn of Indians living abroad to pledge their support to an enterprising man in Bihar whose popular radio station has been shut down after failing to pay license fee to the government.

After reading about the plight of Raghav Mahto and his Radio Raghav FM Mansoorpur 1, members of the Indian diaspora are contacting Mahto and the media in the state to find out how they can help revive the station.Some NRIs are ready to fork out money.Radio Raghav had been beaming popular programmes from Mansoorpur village in Vaishali district for the past three years and enjoyed a loyal clientele, drawn from all sections of the society.Ajay Kapoor, an NRI in Britain, approached Bihartimes.com, a popular news portal of the state, and sought contact details of Mahto. Ajay Kapoor, a Manchester-based psychologist, has written to Mahto.Another NRI, Pranesh Sinha, has apparently offered to pay the money Mahto needs to get a radio licence. 'I read about this talented man,' Sinha said. 'I am really interested in helping him.' The trouble for Raghav Radio started this month when the district administration directed officials to find out if it had permission to broadcast.Mahto says he was not aware that a licence was required to start a radio station, and he suddenly realised his enterprise was an illegal operation. The annual fee for the licence is about Rs.400,000, money Mahto cannot raise.'I don't even have the money for medical treatment of my father who is suffering from cancer,' he has been telling friends.The 20-something Mahto was forced by officials to sign a bond promising not to go back on air again.Another person who has offered to help Mahto restart the radio is India-born Australian Harc Worsworth.The Bihar portal's Ajay Kumar said he had received several queries from within India and abroad. 'But neither the state nor the central government is making an effort to help this poor man.'Mahto is sad his radio has been closed down, but his neighbours spread over several villages are fuming.In a rare show of unity, locals have decided to collect money to revive Radio Raghav, as it is popularly known. 'A large number of people have offered financial help to restart the radio station,' Mahto told IANS over telephone. One man, Damodar Singh, has announced a contribution of Rs.5,000. Others have vowed to raise funds. 'My hope lies in the peoples' support,' Mahto said. Vaishali district magistrate Sanjeev Hans said the station was closed down for violating the Indian Telegraphs Act. A formal police complaint was lodged against Mahto and the radio equipment seized by a three-member team from the communications ministry in the village on Sunday. For people residing in and around Mansoorpur village, Mahto is a hero. He is more popular than the local legislator and MP and people prefer Radio Raghav to the national channels.The station ran community radio service providing local news and opinion in the local dialect as well as entertainment programmes for villages in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali and Saran districts.

Businessmen coming back to Bihar : KANG

Rasheeda Bhagat in Patna
"Policies have been put in place to facilitate investments. We have new policies for sugar, entertainment... Until you have policies, you can't implement anything... "

"We can only go up," said the Bihar Chief Secretary, Mr G. S. Kang. While 100 days might be too short a time to judge any performance, the Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar has made a quick headstart, taking decisions and formulating policies to repair the State's infrastructure and attract investments. Results are showing as businessmen are returning to Bihar, said Mr Kang during an interaction with Business Line.

Excerpts from the interview:

The country wants to know if anything has changed after the present government assumed charge; there is a lot of hope riding on the Nitish Kumar government. Is change happening?
Things are changing; we've always been saying that we need decisions and polices on which we can work. The policies have been put in place to facilitate investment in most areas, we have new policies for sugar, entertainment... A new industrial policy is under consideration and a direction has been issued to all departments to come out within a fortnight their own vision and policy for the next five years. Decisions are being taken. This year we hope to spend Rs 5,000 crore, up from Rs 3,200 crore last year, and the Plan for 2007-08 should top Rs 8,500 crore.
So after a long time, expenditure will take place; the complaint with Bihar is that allocated funds are not used...
We're taking special care that money is being spent. In April the Chief Minister will review 10 major departments and their ministers to see what was the Plan expenditure last year and what is planned to be spent this year.
You talked about new policies and plans; governments are notorious for plans, but it is the execution of policies that is lacking...
Until you have policies, you can't implement anything. Policies have been notified and a State Investment Promotion Board has been cleared as a single window for speedy clearances. So we are now hopeful. Because of our new sugar policy, proposals have come for 36 new mills.
Collectively how much investment will these 36 sugar mills bring?
Today a 5000-tonne sugar mill costs about Rs 90 crore. So 36 would work out of over Rs 3200 crore.
Last time we met — two years ago — we had discussed how capital was going out of Bihar, how businessmen and industrialists were leaving the State. Has that stopped?
Not only stopped, but reversed; people are coming back. The Bajaj group has already bought land for two mills; the Dham group has taken 125 acres to put up a sugar mill. There was a lot of demand that we revive our old sugar mills but they had already run into liquidation, so we're trying to work out how to revive them. Also, 25 multiplexes are coming up in Bihar; Kishore Jha, who made the film Gangajal,held discussion with the Chief Minister and we have framed a policy on entertainment. The next day he (Kishore Jha) started work; of the 25 multiplexes, he is putting up 15 himself. Each will involve an investment of Rs 15 crore.
What about the IT sector? Many people feel this is the way to leap forward...
We have to find our niche. Though there are a few IT centres, at the moment our basic focus is on infrastructure. We are spending a lot of money on roads and power.
I can see some difference already on the roads. But has the power situation improved?
We are really worried about the power situation because as our consumption keeps increasing, the losses of the electricity board are going up and that is putting a pressure on the State exchequer. So we're trying to sort that out. In the next two years we'll spend Rs 2,500 crore to upgrade the power system, rural electrification, etc.
What about private participation in the power sector?
We're now getting offers for putting up super thermal power stations in the State, four or five queries have come particularly for the Nabinagar thermal power station. For our Muzzafarpur thermal power station, we've gone into a joint venture with NTPC.
What about the roads?
This year on the roads we're going to spend something like Rs 3,000 crore apart from what the Centre is spending. By the end of the year hopefully roads will be better; when that happens, the rest of the economy hots up.
In the past you've always stressed that Bihar has got an image problem. Even now the image is that while the rest of India is going ahead, there is no law and order in Bihar, kidnappings are going on, etc. As Bihar's Chief Secretary, what are the main challenges before you?
The main challenge was improving this negative image; I think there is now a perceptible change. Till last year Biharis were reluctant to admit they are from the State; today that has changed. There is no law and order problem and we've also sorted out the crime problem.
Why was all this not happening before? What has changed?
Will... the political will.
What about modernising the police force? The extremists are able to wreck havoc because the police force is not modern, well equipped...
We're spending Rs 105 crore to equip them with new weapons, etc. In the next two years we'll spend about Rs 250 crore on police modernisation, a fair share of which will go into police buildings. The police morale is up and they are now responding and repelling attacks.
Is Nitish a tough taskmaster?
Oh yes, he is a very tough taskmaster and wants things done quickly. But he is also a very polite and cultured person; he is never harsh with anybody or shouts at anybody. He is also very fair, and people respond.
There are huge expectations from him...
Yes, and he knows that he has to deliver because he has come to power on that promise. The expectations are actually a bit scary and one of our jobs is to tone that down!
Of course there is no magic wand...
And he says it... `I have no magic wand but in three months I have brought down the crime rate, controlled the law and order situation.' I joke that he wants today's thing done yesterday.
But a car that had not been running for long and suddenly you start running it at 100 km will break down. The system has to be slowly built, but the recovery is much faster than expected.
Lack of employment is a big problem in Bihar and it also increases the crime rate. So what are you doing on this front?
The Government of India had given us 23 out of 38 districts under the rural India employment guarantee scheme. We have taken the remaining 15 districts under our own plan which no other State has done. This will be a good beginning.
The CM is also very keen about rural connectivity; so in addition to the Bharat Nirman scheme, we'll connect an additional 500 villages with pucca roads; we've set apart Rs 125 crore this year for that. Bridges will be built over small rivulets, for that we've set apart Rs 50 crore.
The health-care scene is also quite scary; what improvements are you making?
Oh, we've started giving attention to this right from President's rule. We've outsourced our pathology labs right up to the sub-regional level to such private players as Ranbaxy, Lal Laboratories of Delhi, etc.
We have given 41 additional PHCs to private parties.
We have now outsourced the ambulance services too.
How long before some perceptible change takes place; in all fairness 100 days is too short a time.
Of course, but by June end, you'll see some results on the ground. Roads worth Rs 500 crore are under construction and a lot of that will be finished by June.
How do you see the future of Bihar?
You can't go below where we were already. So we have to only go up!

Kalam's 10 missions for Bihar's growth

March 28, 2006 16:38 ISTLast Updated: March 28, 2006 18:29 IST

Laying emphasis on agriculture and allied sectors, social sector, infrastructure and e-governance President A P J Abdul Kalam on Tuesday unveiled 10 missions for transforming Bihar into a developed state by year 2015.
In his address to a joint session of the bicameral legislature, Kalam recalled the past glory of the state and asked the lawmakers to draw inspiration from it to usher in a new era of progress and prosperity.
Describing agriculture as the core competence of the state and the first mission for development, Kalam lamented that despite having very good soil, abundant supply of irrigation water and a hardworking population, the sector was performing poorly.
The aim, he said, should be to increase rice production from 5.5 million tonne to 15 million tonne and wheat production from four million tonne to 12 million tonne in four years.
Stating that Bihar should become "the theatre of action for India's second green revolution," the President suggested creation of sugar cooperatives on the lines of Maharashtra who could establish at least 10 sugar mills which can fully utilise the existing 1 crore (10 million) metric tonne of sugarcane being produced.
He also suggested to spread the operations of Bihar state Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (Compfed) to all the 38 districts to enable provision of additional productive self-employment to 7,50,000 families in rural areas in next three to four years.
Stressing the need for a fresh thrust to education, the second mission, Kalam suggested raising the literacy rate of 47.5 per cent to 75 per cent by 2010 and 100 per cent by 2015.
Kalam underlined the importance of maintaining academic calendar and suggested that the human resource development ministry should consider creation of an IIT, an Indian Institute of Science and 10 state-of-the-art development technical institutes for higher education.
Regarding creation of global human resource, the third mission, the President said the state would have around 45 million youth by 2050 and keeping this resource in mind, universities and educational systems in Bihar should create two cadres of personnel:
A global cadre of skilled youth with specific knowledge of special skills; and
Another global cadre of youth with higher education to take up research and leadership roles.
Kalam's fourth mission -- Renaissance-Nalanda international university -- envisaged a university with international partnership with an outlay of Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) whose focus would be the evolution of world of peace and prosperity, devoid of crime, terrorism and war.
"To recapture the past glory in the modern context, in keeping with Buddha's teaching for seeking knowledge in a holistic way by understanding the inter-connectedness of things in life and the universe, it has been proposed to establish a Bodh Gaya Nalanda Indo-Asian institute of learning in partnership with select Asian countries," he said.
Terming healthcare as a vital ingredient for development, Kalam, in his fifth mission, proposed equipping state's primary health centres and hospitals with mobile clinics and suggested that the government start a scheme under which every citizen makes a contribution of rupees three per month and government gives a matching grant.
This will lead to a consolidated health fund of Rs 576 crore (Rs 5.76 billion) per annum for the people of Bihar.
Referring to the devastation caused by recurrent flood, Kalam, in his sixth mission, stressed the need for scientific water management.
He underlined recovering all water bodies from encroachments by using satellite maps, de-silting all village ponds and clearance of inlet and outlet in the Gangetic basin, dredging of rivers and creating check dams so that water can be retained in the drought prone south Bihar.
The President recommended a 500 km-long waterway in south Bihar by connecting the south to north flowing rivers. This, he said, will be apart from providing irrigation facility to over five million acres.
Kalam's seventh mission -- infrastructure development-- proposed converting 35,000 km length of rural roads to all weather road and maintenance of national and state highways to international standards.
He suggested creation of 500 PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) centres in the state for improving physical connectivity through quality roads, electronic connectivity through telecommunication and knowledge connectivity through education and vocational training of farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs
Kalam recommended setting up one nuclear power plant of 1000 MW, apart from large scale use of solar power.
The president suggested making Bihar a tourist destination of the world as his 8th mission keeping in mind the state's rich civilizational heritage. He suggested connecting the Grand Asian road from Singapore to Myanmar to Bodh Gaya through north eastern states' east-west highway.
He also underscored improving air connectivity for boosting the tourism sector, which, he said had the potential for 4 million jobs and revenue earning of $10 million annually.
Kalam's 9th mission envisaged creation of 10 exclusive economic zones depending upon the core competence of the districts in three sectors--knowledge products (information and bio-technology), precision manufacturing (sugar, yarn, silk, leather, sports goods) and agro food processing industries.
For this, he suggested inviting industrialists and entrepreneurs of Bihar origin living in other states and abroad to explore possibilities of investment, fast single window clearance for attracting investments, and provide land, power, water, physical and electronic connectivity to identified zones.
The president's 10th and most important mission constituted providing e-governance coupled with administrative reforms to accelerate the process of socio-economic development.
The president concluded his speech with an appeal to the legislators to be a 'partner in making Bihar an economically prosperous, happy and safe state' and read out from Maharishi Patanjali's Yoga Sutra:
"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find in yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents come alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamt yourself to be."
Later, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar thanked the President for his address and assured that the legislators, irrespective of their political differences, would endeavour to make Bihar a developed state by year 2015 and contribute to the development of the country.
Stressing the need for a 'harmonious relationship' between the Bihar government and the Centre, Kumar said he was confident that the state's past glory will be restored in the years to come through hard work of its people.
Earlier, in his welcome address, governor G K Gandhi hailed Kalam as 'representative of the collective awareness of one billion people of India' and expressed the hope that his guidance will help the state achieve its true potential for intellectual, technological and social advancement.

INNOVATOR :Mohammad Saidullah

Saidullah designed a bicycle that can not only travel on land but also floats.

Patna: Necessity they say, is the mother of invention. When floods ravaged Mohammad Saidullah's village, he found a new way to survive.
"Nadi ke kinare mera ghar tha. Aus usine mere ghar ko kat diya. (My house was near a river and it was destroyed by the river)," Saidullah says.
Saidullah designed a bicycle that can not only travel on land but also float on water.
He has named the Noor Bicycle, after his wife.
On land, it is just a bicycle and in water, it becomes a boat.
In a nation of a million cyclists - it took one man to think out of the box. And he even built in some special effects.
The cycle can goe front and back. If it gets stuck just pedal backwards and it will reverse.
"Isme ek aur khubi hai. Ye aage bhi chalti hai aur peeche bhi. Doosri cycle sirf aage jati hai (It has one more speciality. It can go front and back unlike other cycles which can only go forward.)," he adds.
Air floats keep the bike from sinking and fan blades propel it forward. It took five years and Rs 6 thousand to perfect the cycle.
The idea is brilliant and worthy of an IIT engineer.
Yet, Mohammad is just a simple villager. Geniuses like him live all around us.

Swami Ramdev : Bihar NEW BRAND AMBASSDOR

Swami Ramdev to be Bihar's brand ambassador

March 25, 2006 15:32 IST
Impressed by yoga guru Swami Ramdev's efforts to arouse within Biharis the urge to attain total fitness, the state government has decided to appoint him the brand ambassador of Bihar.
"I have requested Swami Ramdev to become Bihar's brand ambassador and he has not not turned down my request," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told reporters after the yoga icon met him on the concluding day of the week-long 'Yoga Vigyan Shivir' in Patna.
Nitish lauded Ramdev for "awakening the people of Bihar" and his endeavour to make them "fearless individuals".
On his part, Ramdev extolled the "hardworking Biharis" for their role in development of India and several other countries, which they have made their home.
It is, however, not not yet known what the responsibilities of Ramdev would be as the brand ambassador of the state.

Bihar Govt. to purchase modern weaponry to tackle crime

Patna, March 24 (PTI): Bihar Government has decided to modernise the police force at a cost of Rs 108 crores in the next fiscal with acquisition of modern weapons, vehicles and other equipment, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar informed the State Assembly.
The announcement was made by Kumar while replying to the budgetary demand of Home department totalling over Rs 1553 crore which was passed by voice vote after rejecting the cut motion of Jagdanand Singh (RJD).
Kumar, who also holds the Home portfolio, said under the police modernisation scheme the government would purchase 4059 Insas rifles, 13681 self-loading rifles, 1690 AK 47 rifles, 5382 carbines, 66 rocket launchers, 1665 bullet proof jackets, 39 passive night vision devices, 434 commando lights, 40 mines protected vehicles, 79 bullet proof gypsies, 50 anti-riot control vehicles, 21 speed boats, 700 jeeps, 35 ambulances and 156 gypsies.
The Chief Minister said the dilapidated police stations would be renovated and new police lines and lock-ups constructed.
He justified the Government's surrender and rehabilitation policy for hardened criminals under which 191 outlaws laid down their arms on March 21 in Supaul and Madhepura districts of north Bihar and vowed to return to the social maintstream.
"The government is committed to create an atmosphere of peace and harmony in the state and the surrender policy is a positive step in that direction. I hope that many more people will come forward and contribute to the development of Bihar," the Chief Minister said.

Bihar Self-Sufficient in Energy in Next Three Years: Minister

Patna: March 23, 2006
State Energy Minister, Vijendra Prasad Yadav, while justifying his department's demand of Rs.1200 crore for the development of power sector in Bihar said that in the next three years not only the state would be completely self-dependent in energy, it would be in a position to sell power to other states as well."Till now, we are completely dependent on the Central power units for supply of powr in the state but we have initiated moves and are taking steps that will make us completely independent in three years," Yadav said at the state Assembly on Wednesday.The Energy Minister said that a number of private investors including the TATA and telecom giant Reliance, have expressed their interests in setting up mega power plants with 4,000 megawatt (MW) capacity in Navinagar, Kursaila and Pirpainti while the Chief Minister was in talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for an 'ultra-mega' nuclear power plant in Nawada district.Lashing out at the erstwhile Lalu-Rabri regime, Yadav said that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) government never realized the importance of electricity in today's modern world. "They always thought power was a luxury item and benefited only the rich class. As a result, they never really made any serious effort to solve the perpetual energy crisis in the state," the minister said.

The Bihar Today

The Bihar TodayRegional AIDS Training Center and Network in India ( RATNEI ), a training unit of International Health Organization- USA, has been conducting free of cost international standard training on HIV/AIDS for Medical Doctor's, NGO Executives, Media Personnel, Paramedical Staff and common people since October 2004. Our second cycle of training is ongoing and we have completed Level 1, 3 modular trainings in this cycle. Our next training ( 4th Module) on VCTC and Lab Diagnosis of HIV for medical doctors is scheduled from April 17th till April 21st at Hotel Chanakya, Patna. We provide free moderate accomodation and second class railfare/ bus fare for the most direct route (within India) to Patna. Persons residing abroad come to attend the training by their own cost. We can provide modest accomodation. Last date for registration is April 5,2006. Interested persons can request for the registration form through email or can download from our website: www.ihousa.org
Please feel free to contact for further details.
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MBBS(Gold Medallist); MCH; FCCP; Ph.D.
Medical Director
RATNEI- IHO USA
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Mobile: 09835078298

NITISH KUMAR invites investors to Bihar

Kumar invites investors to Bihar
Press Trust Of India / Kolkata/ Patna March 23, 2006
Asserting that the work culture and image of Bihar has witnessed a rapid transformation, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday invited entrepreneurs to contribute in the development of the state by bringing investments.

"The government has cleared several projects in the infrastructural sectors like road and power", Kumar said.

"The work culture in the government has seen a rapid transformation and the image of Bihar outside has improved a lot," Kumar added at a function of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) here.

Seeking to instill confidence in the entrepreneurs that law and order situation has improved substantially, the CM referred about successful conduct of association of physicians of India conference, national youth festival, which attracted widespread praise from the participants from outside.

Kumar further said that people in the capital celebrated holi till late in the night without any fear from rowdy elements after a long time.

The CM said the state government has allocated Rs 2000 crore in the budget for next fiscal for construction of roads. Besides work has been started in construction of roads in rural areas under CM road project.

In the field of power, Rs 743.45 crore has been earmarked for the next fiscal for construction of new power stations and upkeep of the existing ones.

Asserting that environment had been made "investment friendly", Kumar requested the entrepreneurs to expeditiously take a decision for investment in Bihar for which the state government would provide necessary assistance.

Swinging innovation: 66-yr-old develops unique generator

Tuesday, March 21, 2006 (Jamshedpur):
Vijay Narayan Sharma lives in Jamshedpur and is all of 66. At an age when most people think of putting up their boots, he on the other hand has been swinging in innovative ideas. Born in Bihar, this high school dropout spent the early years of his life struggling to make both ends meet.It was around the time he landed a regular job with SAIL in Orissa that he realised that his interest in electrical gadgetry could be put to better use.Sharma has literally devised a swing generator or jhula generator, which quite simply converts the mechanical energy of the swinging action into usable electrical energy.Answer to power cutsThe innovator claims that this prototype can generate enough electricity to light more than 10 bulbs at the same time."I was working on it for a long time. Though I succeeded only once, the formula worked," says Sharma.Though the idea and blueprint had been ready with him for a while, Sharma had to experiment with various materials within his limited means before he hit upon the correct one to make the generator parts."We all support him in all his attempts," says Sharma's wife.What's more, in honour of his very supportive family, he has named the innovation Jhula Sharma generator."It would have been nice if we got some monetary help," says Amar Nath Sharma, Vijay's son.In this age and time when load shedding and power cuts are the rule of the day, innovators like Vijay Narayan Sharma and innovations like the Jhula Sharma generator may well be the answer!

Supercop on march : Sri Abhayanand Sir

Just a few months back Sri Abhyanand Sir was busy with blackboard and chalk with his IIT-JEE students , One can find 100+ books on Physics at his drawing room almirah . Now he is SUPERCOP of Bihar busy with Strategies and tactics to convert Sri NITISH KUMAR jee VISION into ACTION . Bihar is famous for its own culture and tradition , This much spoken culture and customs also include CRIMINALs , when it has become your custom and culture then not easy to eliminate , It require a different strategy . LAW is NO WHERE or LAW is NOW HERE . Here Bihar SUPERCOP and youngest ADG Sri ABHYANAND Sir matters .

Fear of POLICE is never needed or Fear of LAW is needed. POLICE duty is to implement LAW / KANOON . This is what Sri Abhyanand Sir told The Bihar Today Chief editor Sri Ranjan Rituraj Sinh on 15th March , 2006 . LAW & ORDER of any state is interdependent to other departments , MORE COHESIVENESS and LESS COUPLING is required and its not easy where average age of POLICE is 40+ . Fresh Recruitment is a long process which may take even 3-4 years , so Abhyanand Sir has planned to recruit ex army person on CONTRACT . Its does not mean that BIHAR government is not going to recruit Fresh POLICEMEN ...This process has been kicked off but it will take time .

Indian Express wrote " “This was unbelievable till the other day. We want to create fear of law among criminals which had disappeared in the state. Never in the past had they bothered about conviction,” says Additional Director General (Administration) of Police, Abhyanand, the brain behind the drive.

Several SPs, when contacted, pointed out that the new steps were creating an impact in building the atmosphere against criminals. “On the first day in court, one notorious criminal confessed to using arms and committing dacoity. This is an outcome of the drive launched by the police”, pointed out Muzaffarpur SP Ratn Sanjay.

• Drive launched in 1000 Arms Act cases in which criminals are in jail. Over 200 convictions secured.
• 5,000 retired Army men on contract for one year. 2500 SIs, 10,000 constables being taken.
• Trial in public of petty criminals by SDMs.
• Rs 108-cr in Budget for police modernization.

Bihar social think tank says " BIHAR situation is not like of yesteryears PUNJAB or present KASHMIR , so to advocate GILL type DGP or action can damage the social structure ." One of the BIHARI IT expert from NOIDA said " LAW & Order problem is not like of Electronic gate that in one state it is ON and other state it is OFF . "

This SUPERCOP who qualified IPS at the age of 21 only and gold medalist in PHYSICS heavily rely on IT and Software . Recruitment in BIHAR POLICE is going to be managed by IT & Softwares . When Sri Abhyanand Sir was SSP , NALANDA , he has used IT & Software programs in evenly distribution of POLICE force in election . Same FUNDA he applied in last election along with N K Sinha , IAS .

More surprising , The Bihar POLICE also offers a handsome cash compensation for fire arms surrendered by the criminals, plus an immediate payment of Rs 10,000 and monthly installments of Rs 3,000 to those giving themselves up to the law, ADGP (Headquarters) Abhyanand said.

The rehabilitation package for each beneficiary will be worth Rs 2 lakh— of this, 25 per cent would be government aid and the rest given as an easy loan, he added.
As part of the rehabilitation efforts, criminals who do not own a house or land will be provided houses under the Indira Awas Yojna.

Ukrainian entrepreneurs seek to invest in Bihar

Ukrainian entrepreneurs seek to invest in Bihar
Ukrainian entrepreneurs seek to invest in Bihar Patna, Mar 8 : With Bihar's NDA government announcing an investment promotion package, a business delegation from Ukraine today met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and expressed interest in setting up micro hydel power projects in the state.Talking to reporters after a meeting the delegation, the chief minister said that he told the delegates that the state government has prepared a investment promotion policy and they should undertake a field survey and suggest the places where they wished to set up micro-hydel power units."We will consider their proposals under the new investment promotion policy which provides for incentives to entrepreneurs," he said.In reply to a question, Kumar said several entrepreneurs had evinced interest for investing in Bihar in the wake of the 'changed scenario'.The Ukrainian delegation also wished to invest in civil aviation and the communication sectors. For which, the chief minister said he had directed them to take it up with the Centre.Referring to Railway minister Lalu Prasad's meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday during which he demanded setting up of a nuclear power plant in Bihar, the chief minister said "We have been making the demand for setting up of nuclear power plants and thermal power projects in Bihar for a long time."

46 new cold storages to be set up in Bihar

46 new cold storages to be set up in Bihar
46 new cold storages to be set up in Bihar Patna, Mar 8: Bihar government today said it would take steps to promote agro-based industries, ensure scientific farming and high quality seeds for farmers, besides set up 46 new cold storages in the state in the current five year plan period.Replying to a three-hour debate on the budgetary demands of over Rs 195 crore for the state agriculture department for 2006-07, Water Resources Minister Ramashray Prasad Singh said all possible steps would be taken for giving a boost to farm production and ensuring rapi growth of agro-based industries.He was replying in the absence of Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh.He said a total of 46 new cold storage units would be set Up during the running five year plan in addition to existing 215 such units to cater to the requirements of farmers.To ensure supply of +high quality seeds+, singh said the +defunct+ bihar state seed corporation would be revived and effective steps would be taken for creating additional irrigat ion facilitiies for 20 lakh hectare area under the million shallow tubewell programme.Call centres have also been opened to facilitate the farmers receive necessary information about scientific methods of farming from scientists, he said.The house later passed the budgetary demands of the agriculture department for the next fiscal by voice vote after rejecting the cut-motion of senior RJD mla Jagdanand Singh who accused the government of having "no concrete policy for agriculture." Earlier, opposition rjd mlas objected to the absence of agriculture minister narfendra singh during the debate on budgetary demands of his department in the House.

LALU wants NUCLEAR PLANT in BIHAR

Patna, March 7: RJD President and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking installation of a nuclear power plant in electricity-starved Bihar.
"We had a fruitful discussion with the Prime Minister who assured us that he will take up the issue with the Atomic Energy Commission", Lalu said from Delhi after a delegation of RJD ministers in the union government from Bihar and MPs called on the Prime Minister.
Lalu said the delegation explained to the Prime Minister the acute shortage of power in the state, particularly during summer, and sought his intervention for setting up a nuclear power reactor.
"I am confident that our endeavour will bear fruit and Bihar, which has no nuclear power reactor, will have one soon", he said.
The delegation included among others union ministers Premchand Gupta and Kanti Singh. (Agencies)

Bihar Chamber of Commerce for joint ventures

Bihar Chamber of Commerce for joint ventures

Patna, Mar 4 (UNI) The Bihar Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has submitted a document to the World Bank on the probabilitities of joint ventures between the public and the private sectors for economic development of the state.Official sources said here today the document was presented by a BCC delegation at a roundtable meeting convened by the World Bank yesterday.Sources said that the document was aimed at helping the World Bank plan its future strategies and initiate projects accordingly.Measures to control recurrent floods, setting up of projects in Bihar, promotion of agriculture and of agro based and food processing industries, setting up of quality educational institutions for technical education, public-private partnership in renovation of national highways, public-private partnership in the energy sector and tourism were few issues dealt with in the BCC document.

NITISH KUMAR : 100 Days

100 days: Nitish satisfied over giving 'systematic governance'
Patna, March 4. (PTI): Notwithstanding the opposition cries of "abysmal" law and order and lack of development in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar feels that in the 100 days he has been in power in one of India's most volatile states, he has been able to create a positive atmosphere for development and retain the trust of the people.

The man who strode to power carrying the burden of enormous expectations of the people of the state steeped in lawlessness and poverty is satisfied with having made a good start in re-introducing a "systematic governance in the State where none existed in the past 15 years of RJD rule."

"I believe in turning challenges into opportunities. It has been a very short time since we came to power but things have begun to look up.

"People of Bihar who once suffered from an inferiority complex are now feeling proud. Public perception of Bihar in other States has undergone a change. Where there was contempt or, at the most, condescension, there is respect," Kumar, whose Government completed 100 days in office today, told PTI in an interview.

Kumar said even people in the UPA Government at the Centre, including the Prime Minister, were appreciative of the "sincere steps" taken for the State's progress.

The Chief Minister answered questions on a variety of issues ranging from his controversial decision to institute another judicial inquiry into the Bhagalpur communal riots of 1989 which drew flak from the RJD to his perception of the Naxal menance that threatens to stunt the state's development.

Ex-VC of MAHE to head Bihar Health Society

Ex-VC of MAHE to head Bihar Health Society
Saturday March 4 2006 11:40 IST
MANGALORE: City-based cardiologist and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) former Vice-Chancellor Prof B M Hegde has been invited by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to head Bihar Health Society (BHS).

The society, formed at the initiative of Nitish Kumar, will look into upgrading facilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, which come under its purview, in the state.

Kumar, impressed with Dr Hegde’s talk on healthcare reforms delivered at a medical conference in Bihar, did not lose a moment in communicating his decision to nominate him as the head of Bihar Health Society.

The city is naturally elated over the unique honour being conferred on one of its most popular citizens.

Born on August 18, 1938 in Pangala near Udupi, Dr Hegde since his youth had developed a passion for teaching.

An avid writer and a great orator, Dr Hegde is popular for his ability to speak in seven languages, clarity of thought, compassion and healthy respect for native, complementary systems of medicine.

Besides being on the governing bodies of many prestigious institutions in India and abroad, he has been a visiting professor in institutions in almost all countries, except South America.

When contacted Dr Hegde, who was returning to the city after attending a medical seminar in Pune, said he was likely to take charge of his new job this month.

The 20-member society headed by him will have an executive director of IAS cadre and eminent doctors.

Dr Hegde, who has already familiarised himself with the grim realities in the healthcare sector during his many visits to Bihar, said: ‘‘The responsibility is not a joke but hard work.’’

Dr Hegde said the honour was an opportunity to do something for the ordinary people in Bihar who are very helpful and affectionate.

Bihar budget to raise outlay 16%

Bihar budget to raise outlay 16%
To totally eliminate revenue deficit by 2008-09
Press Trust Of India / Kolkata/ Patna March 03, 2006

Laying stress on strengthening law and order, infrastructure and developing social sector, Bihar's NDA government's maiden budget has proposed a 16.11 per cent hike in the total outlay and leaving an uncovered deficit of Rs 22.05 crore.

Presenting the full budget for 2006-07 in the State Assembly, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, promised to totally eliminate revenue deficit by 2008-09 and cut down fiscal deficit to three per cent of gross state domestic product by that time.

Enumerating the new schemes launched by the government in keeping with its commitment to enhance rural employment and strengthen rural infrastructure, he said Rs 125 crore has been allocated for the "Mukhya Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana" to connect villages having population between 500 and 1,000 with all-weather roads.

A sum of Rs 120 crore has been earmarked for the employment guarantee scheme launched in 15 of the state's 38 districts through government's own resources. These districts are not covered by the centre-sponsored National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.

Modi promised to place an Outcome Budget detailing the physical assets proposed to be created by the government during the next financial year in the third week of this month before the budget is passed.

The budget pegged the total outlay at Rs 29,220.64 crore for 2006-07, up 16.11 per cent from Rs 25,167.04 crore in the current financial year.

Underlining improved law and order as crucial for attracting investment, Modi said Rs 133 crore would be spent on modernisation of the police force, which would be strengthened through recruitment of 2,500 sub-inspectors and 10,000 constables. A sum of Rs 5 crore has been set aside for modernisation of prisons.

To improve healthcare facilities, Rs 1,240 crore has been allocated for the health sector, including Rs 326 crores under plan and Rs 914 crore under non-plan heads, Modi said.

While Rs 281 crore would be spent on medicines and repair of hospitals, Rs 78 crore would be invested in construction of new hospitals. Private participation would be encouraged in pathology, radiology, maintenance and upkeep of hospitals, ambulance services and mobile medical units.

Stating that Bihar's economy was based on agriculture, Modi said to boost farm output; the government has earmarked Rs 1,212 crore for irrigation, Rs 316 crore more than 2005-06, a raise of 37 per cent.

A sum of Rs 20 crore has been set aside for minority welfare under which boundaries will be constructed at graveyards, construction of hostels for students of minority communities, and towards share capital of national minorities' development and finance corporation and state minorities financial corporation.

With a view to giving a fresh thrust to industrialisation a state investment promotion council has been constituted and Rs 205.33 crore set aside for "land bank scheme" under which land would be acquired in advance to be sold to prospective investors, Modi said.

He said to promote industrial investment. A new sugar policy has been announced under which purchase tax was abolished on procurement of sugarcane by mill owners.

To boost private participation in higher education, the government announced 50 per cent exemption on stamp duty for registration of land by parties interested in opening engineering and medical colleges. The government also exempted multiplexes from entertainment tax to encourage entertainment industry.

Rs 500 crore was earmarked for integrated development of Patna and Bodh Gaya under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, while Rs 40 crore each was set aside for setting up a national law college and extension centre of Birla Institute of Technology in the state capital.

In order to strengthen infrastructure, allocation for the road sector was increased by 70 per cent from Rs 925 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 1562 crore in 2006-07. For electricity, a crucial factor in industrialisation, the allocation has been raised from Rs 477 crore this year to Rs 753 crore. Besides, Rs 412 crore has been earmarked to bridge the resource gap of Bihar state electricity board.

To strengthen the social sector, Rs 4886 crore has been provided for primary, secondary and higher education which includes state's share of Rs 384 crore under "Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan", Rs 165 crore for mid-day meal scheme and Rs 75 crore for payment of honourarium to "Shiksha Mitras", Modi said.

Modi said the projected revenue receipts for 2006-07 were pegged at Rs 28,944.64 crore against Rs 24,470.62 crore in 2005-06, up by 18 per cent.

The deficits in the consolidated fund and public accounts in the next fiscal were estimated at Rs 275.99 crore and Rs 375 crore respectively, he said, adding the revenue deficit of Rs 650.99 crore will be bridged to a great extent through the cast balance of Rs 628 crore available with the government due to short-spending in 2005-06 leaving an uncovered deficit of Rs 22.5 crore. The uncovered deficit will be bridged through mobilisation of internal resources, he said.

South Korea can’t do without Bihar

Patna, February 28: The World Kanan Farmers Movement South Korea President Dr M Ele Kim led delegation on Monday met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and evinced interest in opening agricultural research centres at two places in Bihar.

The CM told reporters after the meeting that the South Korean delegation visited Bihar on the request of President A P J Abdul Kalam, who has great anxiety for development of the state.
He said the foreign dignitaries came to Bihar, after discussing in detail with President Kalam about how they could contribute in the growth of Bihar. The CM told the South Korean delegation that Bihar had abundance of talents and natural resources and the climate is very favourable for agriculture.
He requested them to contribute in agriculture. Kumar invited Dr Kim to Bihar during visit of President Kalam to the state on March 27.

During talks, the South Korean delegation evinced interest in opening agricultural research centres at Jamui and Munger districts, the CM said. The Koreans suggested to the CM for bringing a technological revolution in the state it was necessary to change the mindset of the people.