The Bihar success story penned by Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar has changed the face of Bihar. A state hitherto known only for its crime rate is now registering a GDP of 11.03%. There is development where there was only despair. The principle factor of this change is Kumar's 'discipline'.
BIHAR, ONCE almost synonymous to despondency, is rising from the ashes of gloom and murkiness. The nearly infamous GDP growth rate of 11.03% that was termed as miracle more than once is not just where the story begins or ends. The dreadful past that saw this north eastern state decelerating, deteriorating and degrading is hard to picture vis-à-vis the present Bihar.
Nitish Kumar is increasingly seen as a reformer and renovator with sturdy administrational qualities. Today, the streets of Bihar resemble grace as opposed to the crumpling bridges and dilapidated highways a decade ago. An overwhelming 6800 kilometers of roads, more than 1500 bridges, and an almost equal number of cesspits were constructed during Kumar’s tenure.
The enhanced transport facilities, especially the streets and highways have ensured normalcy with the journey time been slashed to half. Real estate enjoyed a boom with many more building projects taken up, the state started to adapt itself to modernization with newer shops and malls opening up. A sharp 18% rise in the cement inflow to the state evinces the escalation and expansion of constructional projects.
Agricultural yields have been cited as a major growth factor and sugar which is the prime sector in Gujarat, has been advantaged a great deal. The sugar mills roped in private investments that would provide direct jobs to tens of thousands, something that came as a boon to a state with one of the least employment opportunities. Under the Nitish Kumar government, the mill scenario ameliorated with several big scale projects being cleared up.
The saga has been threaded together with many such incredible deeds that include a massive 45% growth in the auto sales which has a lot to do with the fact that the highways and boulevards are no longer abandoned after 8 at the night, and that in turn is a direct consequence of terrific administration and governance. The increased law and order situation has been the major reason behind this growth tale, and the man behind it all, the architect of the new Bihar, Nitish Kumar had attributed the marvel to improvement in law and order situation that was in tatters during the previous tenures. Today no politician can openly challenge the state police; no gunda, don or bandit can roam free on the roads after committing a crime and no mafia will be given protection by the government. With heavy police patrolling, there is little scope for a criminal to dodge the claws of legal procedure and penalty.
The Bihar government has been quick in filling the enormous number of vacancies in the police force, and what ensued was no surprise. With speedy trials, backlogs were cleared, and within a span of three years as many as about 39000 were convicted. Bigwigs and highhanded VIP’s too were not spared of the customary legal bindings leading to a complete reversal of Bihar’s façade. Crime rates plunged by 50% straightaway, and the number of kidnapping followed by demand of ransom, which was once thought to be the only vocation in Bihar, has plummeted drastically from 1390 in the previous government’s term to 315 in Nitish Kumar’s tenure.
The improved law and order situation did wonders as investors convinced with the assurance of safety started to invest in Bihar but it is not the private sector that is accredited with the honor of resurrecting the lost state, it is the state spending that did the job. In previous tenures, major portions of the allocated funds remained unused as a result of the lackadaisical attitude of the former governments. Tourism plays a part in the economy undoubtedly, and for Bihar in the past few years, the number of foreign tourists has gone up four-fold from near about 1 lakh to almost 4 lakhs. On the other hand, private educational institutions have come up and the creators of tomorrow – the teachers, as many as 100000 joined primary schools as a part of a major recruiting drive by the Nitish Kumar government.
With the amendments to the notions that were existent in the minds of people regarding Bihar, investors, and not criminals found Bihar to be the land of prospects, upon which mobile service providers have cropped up, so has the prepaid talk-time reportedly risen heavily. Banking firms are a healthier reality in Bihar today.
The health factor remains dim, despite efforts from the government, so is the poverty rate high. A chief contributor to the number of BPL families in India, Bihar also has a high child mortality rate. These figures are as true as the magical figures of SGDP (State Gross Domestic Product). There is a need for more private venturing in order for Bihar to curb poverty. One of the jewels in the crown that the reformist CM wears, is the piece of information that the State Investment Promotion Board, built by Nitish, already has a tad more than Rs 95, 000 crore tenders.
Whatever it is, be it the enhanced law and order, improved roads, surging construction assignments like building, malls or the increasing investor faith for the state, the architect of the new and revived Bihar Nitish Kumar needs to be spoken well of, after all it is not for nothing that India’s economics Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen showered praises on him. The economy wonder has not sprung from nowhere though – massive reorganization was undertaken and implemented but the one thing that
Nitish Kumar propagated with the aim of Bihar’s betterment is ‘discipline’.
Now the rickshaw puller says they are taking back home more money since they are commuting passengers even after 8 PM, and the local storekeeper sighs he does not need to bribe ruffians to survive their business. It is a clear indication that, Kumar has satisfied the people – something which the politicians are here for. There is a lot left to be done for Bihar’s development along with the one big hurdle that the latter along with a few other states has to tackle – the growing Naxalite menace. Kumar’s ‘discipline’ is expected to act as a panacea here too.
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aftab alam
hello sir i want to knw about the bihta that their wil become the international airport or no please sir reply i am waiting please
aviral
i was quite surprised to hear the news about Bihar... but to the core of my heart I am more than happy to see this revival. Hope Nitishji be a role model for other people. May God bless him with all good spirits and blessings and more power to curb the corruption and gundagardi... which will definitely give us a new ray of hope in the politics.
sunil
i recently visited bihar where i lived for almost 15 years in my childhood. many roads are being built on rcc mode which denies yearly commissions after those omissions. family planning is still a far cry even in cities. a mother giving delivery of eighth child in patna city is not uncommon. another thing is the general hygiene which need vast improvement when on sees rudimentary urinals in muzaffarpur bus terminus or the hordes of insects flying over eatable in the bazaars of motihar. but i have great faith on nitishji.
Jay Deep
Bihar was known to be an area of darkness. Its historical poverty was augmented by some very short sighted politicians. But what a change under Nitishji. There was lot of good will behind the current growth story. Any positive change in Bihar is a great change. This thoroughly exposes the fact that people want good governance above all things. I think the people of Bihar will be at a great loss if Nitishji is nor re elected.
ravi kant
my hero nitish.i m ur great fan.u will definitely win this election.i feel sorry that i can't vote u as i m 16 years old.u keep faith in people.god will definitely help to win .best wishes from my family
rksrivastva
Sir, you have done commendable work for the developement of BIHAR but many thing remain to be done.First &foremost to develope the more city (ie Gaya,muzaffarpur,Bhagalpur,Ara, Darbhanga,Purnea etc)in bihar by which pressure on panat may be diminished.Homogenous electri supply will help for the developement.Anyhow you have to arrange electricity.Of & on agitation were carried out for the same.
Shaswat
I admire the work done by Nitish govt and congratulate him for being among the most admired CM of the country for his valuable contribution to the state. I would like to request to the government of Bihar, to concentrate more on sustainable development rather than concentrating only on economic aspects of the development. Trade off between development and environmental aspects of the development is required and it can be brought from the initial level itself rather than hunting for the solution at the end, when its too late.
Somebody has rightly suggested that it ,''its more important to do the right things than to do things right"
Otherwise we have to face the same problem of scarcity of natural resources in the metropolitian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore etc along with pollution issues.
Thank You.
Amit Kumar
Dear Sir (Mr Nitish Kumar), Really sir I am impressed from ur work style. I am Proud to be a Bihari. I am In delhi serving Air Force. I think shortly I will be posted in Andman Nikobar But sir I will reach Bihar only to vote for you....
Best wishes form
Amit Kumar
Nalanda, Bihar
D.A. Chavan
I congratulate Nitish Kumar & Team. Wish that Bihar people will understand the importance of Education & Law & order and give Nitish government another chance to take Bihar to be on top. Hope Utter pradesh people too learn the lesson & follow the ideology of Nish.
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