'Bihar must first develop agri & cottage industry'

PATNA: Former member of the Maharashtra State Planning Board H M Desarda has said Bihar needs to develop agriculture, cottage industries and handicrafts first to improve socio-economic condition of the poor and the common man. Desarda, who said this while delivering the key note address at a seminar at AN College here on Monday, pointed out that as of now proper planning is a must for achieving an all-round development in the state. According to him, the core areas will have to be first developed in order to put the state's economic growth on right track. He said short-term policy should not be considered for achieving real development in the state. Desarda maintained that modern economics is blind and blind growth is no development at all. "The state, which has resources in plenty, is in need of right direction to make its presence felt in the global market," he said. Junior Union minister for agriculture, food and civil supplies Akhilesh Prasad Singh, who inaugurated the seminar, said harmony is the greatest need for maintaining development in the society while ADRI member-secretary Shaibal Gupta said water, forest and land are important for maintaining sustainable development in the state. A N College principal Sita Ram Singh earlier welcomed the guests. Cultural exchange meet: A N College has arranged a cultural exchange meet between South Korean delegation and its students on Wednesday on the college campus, said the college principal Sita Ram Singh. He added it would be the first time when students of both the countries would interact and exchange views on their respective cultures imbibing the spirit of brotherhood. Shortage of teachers: Teaching in science stream has been greatly affected at both inter and degree-level at RPM Mahila College in Patna City, a constituent college of Magadh University, for want of regular posting of science teachers in the college. As of now there is not a single teacher in science subjects to cater to the needs of students, said the college principal Jayshree Dhar. She said the college has already sent several reminders in this regard to both university and government offices, but to no avail. The college also requires at least one teacher in each department of arts stream to cope with the work load of classes, she said and added that the college intends to start vocational courses in fashion designing, BCA and BBM to fulfil the needs of students.