Women in Bihar still fear lodging a case with a male-dominated police station. To date there is no exclusive police station for women in Bihar where they can lodge their complaints.
Out of the 881 police stations in Bihar, there is not a single separate police station for women. CM Nitish Kumar had initiated a number of measures to ensure women's empowerment, the first being reservation of 50 per cent posts for them in the Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies.
In a RTI query, state police headquarters admitted there is not a single women police station in Bihar. Out of the 881 police stations, there are only 10 separate police stations for scheduled castes in the state.
The proposal for setting up separate women police stations one each at Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Gaya are still under consideration. The home department, in its annual report tabled in the state legislature in the last monsoon session, said that the government is committed to set up separate police stations for women so that they could lodge their complaints without any fear.
The government was also committed to set up psychological support center and helpline exclusively for women and children.
Incidentally, the government report suggests that incidents of atrocities on women in Bihar witnessed a rise in 2008 especially in the cases related to abduction, dowry-related deaths, molestation, eve-teasing and rape.
According to the figures compiled by the state police headquarters, as many as 6,186 cases of atrocities (1,041 incidents related to rape, 1,494 kidnapping, 1,233 murder for dowry, 2,230 dowry harassment and 188 cases of eve-teasing and molestation) were registered against women across Bihar in 2008.
A comparative study of the figures available clearly indicates there was increase in such incidents in 2008 compared to the corresponding period the previous year. While 1,012 cases were registered in connection with kidnapping of women in 2007, the number went up to 1,494 in 2008.
The number of dowry death rose from 1,226 in 2007 to 1,233 in 2008. Similarly, cases of atrocities perpetrated on women for dowry rose to 2,230 in 2008 from 1,493 in 2007.
Cases relating to eve-teasing and molestation shot up to 188 during 2008, 20 more than the previous year. The recent disrobing of a woman in Patna in full public view on the busy Exhibition Road had put the NDA government on the back foot. CM Nitish Kumar had described the stripping of the woman in public view as a slur on a civilized society.link
Wednesday 30 September 2009
Monday 28 September 2009
National Institute of Design to overhaul Patna museum
Government of Bihar has approached National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad to overhaul Patna museum. Department of culture and youth, Bihar has approached NID to take up the project. Two faculty members Anil Sinha, senior faculty in graphic design and co-ordinator of NID's design consulting services and Mihir Bholey, faculty of interdisciplinary design studies, recently visited Patna to conduct a two-day workshop with historians, archaeologists, academicians, architects, museologists and senior bureaucrats.
Bihar government approached the institute for this project soon after NID designed a logo for Bihar Tourism. "I had visited the museum and done a detailed study of the building, its spaces and the display currently given to things. The workshop covered all aspects of current condition of the museum, right from the entrance and window ticket to the use of natural and artificial lights and porches," said Sinha.
"The presentation was divided into two distinct parts. I covered design part of the museum and Bholey covered the communication aspect. In the workshop, there was a lot of criticism about the condition of things in the museum and authorities took it well," added Sinha. Their recommendations included arranging artefacts in a story form.link
Bihar government approached the institute for this project soon after NID designed a logo for Bihar Tourism. "I had visited the museum and done a detailed study of the building, its spaces and the display currently given to things. The workshop covered all aspects of current condition of the museum, right from the entrance and window ticket to the use of natural and artificial lights and porches," said Sinha.
"The presentation was divided into two distinct parts. I covered design part of the museum and Bholey covered the communication aspect. In the workshop, there was a lot of criticism about the condition of things in the museum and authorities took it well," added Sinha. Their recommendations included arranging artefacts in a story form.link
Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari's nephew held for murder
Superstar of Bhojpuri cinema Manoj Tiwari's nephew Rakesh Tiwari was arrested for allegedly killing a woman in Bihar's Kaimur district, police said Monday.
Rakesh, accused of killing young married woman Punam Devi, was arrested late Sunday night, a police officer said.
Rakesh allegedly killed Punam after she refused his overtures. "Some villagers told police that Punam was against the relationship. This angered Rakesh and he killed her," the officer added.
Punam was found dead on Sep 24 in her parents' house in Kaimur district. Rakesh had denied his involvement in the murder case. link
Rakesh, accused of killing young married woman Punam Devi, was arrested late Sunday night, a police officer said.
Rakesh allegedly killed Punam after she refused his overtures. "Some villagers told police that Punam was against the relationship. This angered Rakesh and he killed her," the officer added.
Punam was found dead on Sep 24 in her parents' house in Kaimur district. Rakesh had denied his involvement in the murder case. link
Friday 25 September 2009
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar orders probe into police high-handedness
Following allegations of high-handed attitude of police at a village in Buxar district, a probe was today ordered by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
A complaint was made to the Inspector General of Police ( Patna Zone) seeking legal action against policemen who allegedly assaulted residents of Mukundpur village yesterday when they went to arrest a man named in an FIR for atrocities on a woman, official sources said.
Angry villagers had attacked the policemen, injuring two, leading to retaliation by the authorities, the sources said.link
A complaint was made to the Inspector General of Police ( Patna Zone) seeking legal action against policemen who allegedly assaulted residents of Mukundpur village yesterday when they went to arrest a man named in an FIR for atrocities on a woman, official sources said.
Angry villagers had attacked the policemen, injuring two, leading to retaliation by the authorities, the sources said.link
Thursday 24 September 2009
Security alert for Durga Puja in Bihar
High security alert has been sounded in Bihar ahead of Durga puja to ensure peace and harmony in communally sensitive areas of the state.
Patrolling has been intensified in communally sensitive areas. Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have taken position in Patna and Bhagalpur, Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Neelmani told reporters.
In more communally-sensitive areas, the RAF would stage flag march once in a day to instill confidence among the people, while extra security arrangements have been made to protect all vital installations, including properties of the Railways and Centre.
Besides, patrolling has also been intensified in communally-sensitive pockets in Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and West Champaran districts.
Static deployment of Bihar Military Police and district armed police personnel has been made in vulnerable areas to prevent any untoward incident, he said.link
Patrolling has been intensified in communally sensitive areas. Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have taken position in Patna and Bhagalpur, Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Neelmani told reporters.
In more communally-sensitive areas, the RAF would stage flag march once in a day to instill confidence among the people, while extra security arrangements have been made to protect all vital installations, including properties of the Railways and Centre.
Besides, patrolling has also been intensified in communally-sensitive pockets in Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and West Champaran districts.
Static deployment of Bihar Military Police and district armed police personnel has been made in vulnerable areas to prevent any untoward incident, he said.link
Tuesday 22 September 2009
Nitish orders probe into rumours about mehendi and milk
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said vested interests were behind spread of rumours of skin rashes after applying 'mehendi' and contamination of milk supplied by a state-run diary firm and asked the police to go into the matter.
"The rumours have been fanned by vested interests to spike the festive spirit on the occasion of Eid....The milk pouches have been found contamination-free," Kumar said adding that it seemed to be part of a bigger conspiracy.
The Chief Minister has asked the ADG (headquarters) Neelmani to thoroughly investigate it and bring the guilty to book.
With rumours about supply of contaminated milk, angry residents had yesterday destroyed hundreds of pouches of milk manufactured by a state-run dairy firm.link
"The rumours have been fanned by vested interests to spike the festive spirit on the occasion of Eid....The milk pouches have been found contamination-free," Kumar said adding that it seemed to be part of a bigger conspiracy.
The Chief Minister has asked the ADG (headquarters) Neelmani to thoroughly investigate it and bring the guilty to book.
With rumours about supply of contaminated milk, angry residents had yesterday destroyed hundreds of pouches of milk manufactured by a state-run dairy firm.link
Saturday 19 September 2009
Unpaid teachers will not celebrate Eid or Dussehra
Over 10,000 teachers of colleges and universities in Bihar will not celebrate Eid or Dussehra festival this year as they have not been paid even a paisa for the last four months. Even as the government has sanctioned necessary funds for payment of salaries to the college and university staff, the payment is unlikely to be made before the festivities since most universities have already been closed for Puja vacation.
Taking strong exception to the inordinate delay in payment of monthly salaries to the teachers, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Federation of University (Service) Teachers' Associations of Bihar (Fustab) and Federation of University Teachers' Associations of Bihar (Futab), at its meeting held here on Friday under the joint presidentship of Ram Jatan Sinha and K B Sinha, demanded immediate release of funds to the universities. The government is trying its best to humiliate the teachers by issuing all sorts of "dictates" and compelling them to starve by withholding payment of their salaries, the JAC said.
Instead of following the dictates of the HRD with regard to their daily attendance, the college and university teachers would act as per the provisions of the university Acts and statutes. Teachers have already been discharging their duties efficiently and the university authorities are competent enough to catch hold of the "shirkers", observed the JAC.
JAC conveners Dilip Chaudhary and Sanjay Kumar Singh warned the state government that the teachers would court arrest before the state legislature if their demands were not conceded by it soon. link
Taking strong exception to the inordinate delay in payment of monthly salaries to the teachers, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Federation of University (Service) Teachers' Associations of Bihar (Fustab) and Federation of University Teachers' Associations of Bihar (Futab), at its meeting held here on Friday under the joint presidentship of Ram Jatan Sinha and K B Sinha, demanded immediate release of funds to the universities. The government is trying its best to humiliate the teachers by issuing all sorts of "dictates" and compelling them to starve by withholding payment of their salaries, the JAC said.
Instead of following the dictates of the HRD with regard to their daily attendance, the college and university teachers would act as per the provisions of the university Acts and statutes. Teachers have already been discharging their duties efficiently and the university authorities are competent enough to catch hold of the "shirkers", observed the JAC.
JAC conveners Dilip Chaudhary and Sanjay Kumar Singh warned the state government that the teachers would court arrest before the state legislature if their demands were not conceded by it soon. link
Bihar to give 100 acres of land for AMU centre
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said that 100 acres of land would be alloted to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for establishment of an education centre in Bihar's Kishanganj district.
"We have decided to give 100 acres of land, free of cost, to AMU for opening its centre in Kishanganj district," Kumar said in a letter faxed to the university's vice-chancellor P K Abdul Azis.
"The AMU centre will be very helpful in imparting quality education to the student of minority community and will improve the educational atmosphere of the state," he said adding that the district is Muslim dominated with poor literacy figures.link
"We have decided to give 100 acres of land, free of cost, to AMU for opening its centre in Kishanganj district," Kumar said in a letter faxed to the university's vice-chancellor P K Abdul Azis.
"The AMU centre will be very helpful in imparting quality education to the student of minority community and will improve the educational atmosphere of the state," he said adding that the district is Muslim dominated with poor literacy figures.link
Teacher breaks student's hand
A 10-year-old girl broke her hand after being allegedly assaulted by her school teacher in Madanpur area of Aurangabad district, police said today.
Akhtari Praveen's mother has lodged an FIR against a teacher of Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls School on September 14, Superintendent of Police Nishant Tiwari said.
"The teacher, incensed over Akhtari's failure to answer a couple of questions, beat her up and broke her hand," Tiwari said while quoting the police complaint.
"I have ordered supervision of the case by the deputy superintendent of police. Action will be taken based on the injury report and preliminary investigations," the SP added.link
Akhtari Praveen's mother has lodged an FIR against a teacher of Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls School on September 14, Superintendent of Police Nishant Tiwari said.
"The teacher, incensed over Akhtari's failure to answer a couple of questions, beat her up and broke her hand," Tiwari said while quoting the police complaint.
"I have ordered supervision of the case by the deputy superintendent of police. Action will be taken based on the injury report and preliminary investigations," the SP added.link
Thursday 17 September 2009
BCECEB declares Bihar Polytechnic Entrance Exam 2009 result
The Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB) has declared the results for Bihar Polytechnic Entrance Exam 2009 (Second stage).
The Bihar Polytechnic Entrance Exam 2009 (Second stage) result is available at following link: results
The BCECEB has been constituted by the Government of Bihar to conduct Combined Competitive Entrance Examinations (BCECE) for admission in Graduate level Vocational Courses in Engineering, Medical and Agricultural streams available in the Universities, Colleges and Institutions of the State of Bihar as well as those situated outside Bihar against State Quota seats.
The Bihar Polytechnic Entrance Exam 2009 (Second stage) result is available at following link: results
The BCECEB has been constituted by the Government of Bihar to conduct Combined Competitive Entrance Examinations (BCECE) for admission in Graduate level Vocational Courses in Engineering, Medical and Agricultural streams available in the Universities, Colleges and Institutions of the State of Bihar as well as those situated outside Bihar against State Quota seats.
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Over 500,000 pray to ancestors in Gaya
Over 500,000 Hindu devotees have come to Bihar’s Gaya town to perform the ‘pinda daan’ ritual for ancestors, officials said Thursday.
“Till date more than five lakh devotees have performed the pinda daan. It was more than what we expected in view of the drought in several states across India,” an official of the Gaya district administration told.
The district authorities said they had estimated that 400,000 devotees would come to Gaya to perform pinda daan during pitrupaksh, a fortnight-long ancestor worship period. But the numbers of devotees have crossed 50,000 already.
“Two days are still to go to offer pinda daan during the pitrupaksh period,” an official said.
Special facilities as well as tight security arrangements have been made for the devotees.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: “This time gathering of devotees was more than last year, it was a positive sign”.
Pinda daan was also offered for the king of pop Michael Jackson in Gaya by Suresh Narayan, even though he never met the singer.
“On Sunday I offered pinda daan for the salvation of Michael Jackson as a tribute to him,” said Narayan.
Hindus believe offering pinda daan ensures salvation for the souls of their ancestors.
“The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead,” Murari Lal, a priest said.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered by Hindus, but historical records available with priests show that some Muslims also performed the ritual in the past.link
“Till date more than five lakh devotees have performed the pinda daan. It was more than what we expected in view of the drought in several states across India,” an official of the Gaya district administration told.
The district authorities said they had estimated that 400,000 devotees would come to Gaya to perform pinda daan during pitrupaksh, a fortnight-long ancestor worship period. But the numbers of devotees have crossed 50,000 already.
“Two days are still to go to offer pinda daan during the pitrupaksh period,” an official said.
Special facilities as well as tight security arrangements have been made for the devotees.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: “This time gathering of devotees was more than last year, it was a positive sign”.
Pinda daan was also offered for the king of pop Michael Jackson in Gaya by Suresh Narayan, even though he never met the singer.
“On Sunday I offered pinda daan for the salvation of Michael Jackson as a tribute to him,” said Narayan.
Hindus believe offering pinda daan ensures salvation for the souls of their ancestors.
“The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead,” Murari Lal, a priest said.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered by Hindus, but historical records available with priests show that some Muslims also performed the ritual in the past.link
Higher interest rates on PF savings of teachers and staff of minority schools
Depositing provident fund of teachers and non-teaching staff of government-aided secondary schools in PPF accounts, instead of savings accounts, has been made mandatory.
This decision of the Bihar government on Wednesday will ensure higher interest rates on PF savings of teachers and staff of minority schools. The state cabinet also approved over Rs 27 crore as grant for the government-aided minority schools.
The tenure of the Bhagalpur riots commission has been extended till February 25, 2010. It was constituted on February 26, 2006 to probe the cases related to the infamous 1989 riots which had not been pursued by the previous regime. The state cabinet also extended the tenure of the judicial commission probing the police firing at Kahalgaon in January 2008.
Administrative approval has been given for construction of bridges over the Bagmati river at Belsand in Sitamarhi district and another bridge over the same river in Sheohar district. The estimated cost of the two bridges is about Rs 100 crore.
The cabinet also approved funds for preparing a feasibility report and detailed project report for four-laning Gaya-Rajgir-Nalanda NH 82 and Patna-Jehanabad-Gaya-Bodh Gaya NH 83. It also sanctioned over Rs 7.24 crore for DPR for the Bihar State Highway Project I and II.
In another important decision, the cabinet increased the annual income cap for entitlement to free legal aid from the Legal Aid Authority from Rs 25,000 per year to Rs 50,000 per year. It also sanctioned Rs 10 crore as establishment cost for IGIMS-Sheikhpura and allotted funds for the state farmers commission. link
This decision of the Bihar government on Wednesday will ensure higher interest rates on PF savings of teachers and staff of minority schools. The state cabinet also approved over Rs 27 crore as grant for the government-aided minority schools.
The tenure of the Bhagalpur riots commission has been extended till February 25, 2010. It was constituted on February 26, 2006 to probe the cases related to the infamous 1989 riots which had not been pursued by the previous regime. The state cabinet also extended the tenure of the judicial commission probing the police firing at Kahalgaon in January 2008.
Administrative approval has been given for construction of bridges over the Bagmati river at Belsand in Sitamarhi district and another bridge over the same river in Sheohar district. The estimated cost of the two bridges is about Rs 100 crore.
The cabinet also approved funds for preparing a feasibility report and detailed project report for four-laning Gaya-Rajgir-Nalanda NH 82 and Patna-Jehanabad-Gaya-Bodh Gaya NH 83. It also sanctioned over Rs 7.24 crore for DPR for the Bihar State Highway Project I and II.
In another important decision, the cabinet increased the annual income cap for entitlement to free legal aid from the Legal Aid Authority from Rs 25,000 per year to Rs 50,000 per year. It also sanctioned Rs 10 crore as establishment cost for IGIMS-Sheikhpura and allotted funds for the state farmers commission. link
Monday 14 September 2009
Mithila masters
Painters Satyanarayan Lal Karn and Moti Karn — a husband-wife duo— are some of the few Mithila artists who stringently follow the 5000-year-old tradition of the dying art form. Gathering international acclaim for their work, they are National awardees with a passion for their art. Their work will be on display at the Jamaat Art Gallery from September 15 to October 7.
“We use natural elements to make our art. But we never buy flowers or pluck them; instead we pick them when they fall naturally. We grind these flowers, making natural paint that lasts a life time,” says Satyanarayan, who now teaches at Bal Bhavan in Delhi.
Moti adds, “We are against commercialising our art. That’s why we don’t use brushes or synthetic paint. We use thin broom sticks. Some Mithila painters are using sketch-pens and ink-pens to make quick money. We do not mind if filling in details takes us a month,” she says.
Mithila art, originated in Bihar and the themes painted are religious, social and nature. The work is intricate and usually passed down from mother to daughter.
Moti got trained in the art when she was 8 and realised she didn’t want to study. Her mother Karpudi Devi, an artist of repute, dissuaded her at first. “My mother is well known and had displayed her art in Japan. Eventually she allowed me to paint,” says Moti who has not stopped her son from painting though he prefers graphic designing.
Satyanarayan struggled to learn too. “Mithila art is woman dominated, so I secretly watched my mother, Jagdambad who has won a Padmashree. She realised I was keen to learn and disciplined me. At 10, I charged Rs 5,000 for my first painting. I overcharged because I didn’t want to sell, but when they still bought it I was pleased,” he recalls.
It’s been a long journey for the two. “It’s difficult because in India there’s a trend of Modern and Contemporary art, but traditional art is not given enough importance. It hurts when only Westerners promote and write about our art,” says Satyanarayan.
Struggle has its rewards too. Besides this solo exhibition and patronage from the Gandhi family, their dream to open an institute for Mithila painting in their village in Bihar is coming true. “Only when they live away from the city, will the next generation of painters realise what Mithila art is about,” they add.link
Five killed, seven injured in cylinder blast
Five members of a family, including two women, were today killed and seven others injured when a cooking gas cylinder exploded in a house in Bihar's Khagaria district.
The LPG cylinder exploded at the time of cooking in the house of Pappu Bhagat, head of Bandehra village, killing three persons on the spot, sources said.
Other two died of injuries on way to hospital here, the police said.
The dead persons included two women identified as Shyampyari Devi and Puja Devi.
The injured were admitted to a government hospital here where condition of two was stated to be critical, they said.link
The LPG cylinder exploded at the time of cooking in the house of Pappu Bhagat, head of Bandehra village, killing three persons on the spot, sources said.
Other two died of injuries on way to hospital here, the police said.
The dead persons included two women identified as Shyampyari Devi and Puja Devi.
The injured were admitted to a government hospital here where condition of two was stated to be critical, they said.link
Wednesday 9 September 2009
Lalu calls Nitish bad omen
Desperate to revive his fortunes with the Assembly by-elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad has called the Nitish Kumar government jinxed for Bihar. In his election meetings, Lalu has been saying that the state has witnessed natural calamities like floods and drought for two consecutive years because the Nitish government was inauspicious. "Did Bihar witness any such drought or flood during the 15 years of RJD rule?" he asks the crowds at villages where he goes for campaigning.
Stoking up superstitious beliefs of rural people, Lalu even blames the chief minister for the scanty rainfall this monsoon season. Poor rains resulted in drought which, in turn, has caused prices of essential commodities to soar.
And, according to Lalu, this is all because Nitish committed the sin of eating biscuits during the total solar eclipse at Taregna near Patna on July 22. "He kept on munching biscuits during the solar eclipse. This made Lord Indra (the rain God) angry, leaving the state to face one of the worst droughts," Lalu told the crowd at Waris Nagar in Samastipur earlier this week. In his attempt to regain foothold among the electorate, Lalu links Nitish's "inauspicious" act with spiraling prices. "Dal (pulses) has disappeared from the plates of the poor. Aloo (potato) is being sold at Rs 16 a kg. Was aloo ever so costly during the days of Lalu?" he asked the people at one place.
But Lalu's reasoning seems to have fallen flat. Laughing off his jibes, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leaders say Bihar has been experiencing enough rains ever since the RJD chief started blaming Nitish for the drought.
"He has lost his support on the ground. It seems nobody likes him even up there," said a senior JD-U leader, pointing skywards.
Nitish has taken Lalu head-on in the rough and tumble of electioneering. He counters Lalu's attempts to stoke up superstitious fears with logic.
"My elder brother (Lalu) has been claiming that Bihar is facing drought because I ate biscuits during the solar eclipse. But then, why are other states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh facing drought? The CMs of those states didn't have any biscuits during the eclipse?" he asks voters.
Nitish says Lalu has been "uttering irresponsible things" because he has lost the trust of people. The CM claims he is seeking votes in the name of development alone.
Bypolls are being held for 18 constituencies in Bihar in two phases on September 10 and September 15. The counting of votes will take place on September 17.
The bypolls were necessitated because of the resignation of MLAs, who either changed party or were elected to the Lok Sabha.
The bypolls are a litmus test for Lalu, who has tied up with Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party again after the Lok Sabha polls. He, however, failed to stitch up a pre-poll alliance with the Congress despite his best efforts.
The Congress has fielded candidates on all the 18 seats, making Lalu's task more daunting. A multi-cornered contest may help the JD-U. Perhaps that's why Lalu is desperate to discredit the CM.link
Stoking up superstitious beliefs of rural people, Lalu even blames the chief minister for the scanty rainfall this monsoon season. Poor rains resulted in drought which, in turn, has caused prices of essential commodities to soar.
And, according to Lalu, this is all because Nitish committed the sin of eating biscuits during the total solar eclipse at Taregna near Patna on July 22. "He kept on munching biscuits during the solar eclipse. This made Lord Indra (the rain God) angry, leaving the state to face one of the worst droughts," Lalu told the crowd at Waris Nagar in Samastipur earlier this week. In his attempt to regain foothold among the electorate, Lalu links Nitish's "inauspicious" act with spiraling prices. "Dal (pulses) has disappeared from the plates of the poor. Aloo (potato) is being sold at Rs 16 a kg. Was aloo ever so costly during the days of Lalu?" he asked the people at one place.
But Lalu's reasoning seems to have fallen flat. Laughing off his jibes, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leaders say Bihar has been experiencing enough rains ever since the RJD chief started blaming Nitish for the drought.
"He has lost his support on the ground. It seems nobody likes him even up there," said a senior JD-U leader, pointing skywards.
Nitish has taken Lalu head-on in the rough and tumble of electioneering. He counters Lalu's attempts to stoke up superstitious fears with logic.
"My elder brother (Lalu) has been claiming that Bihar is facing drought because I ate biscuits during the solar eclipse. But then, why are other states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh facing drought? The CMs of those states didn't have any biscuits during the eclipse?" he asks voters.
Nitish says Lalu has been "uttering irresponsible things" because he has lost the trust of people. The CM claims he is seeking votes in the name of development alone.
Bypolls are being held for 18 constituencies in Bihar in two phases on September 10 and September 15. The counting of votes will take place on September 17.
The bypolls were necessitated because of the resignation of MLAs, who either changed party or were elected to the Lok Sabha.
The bypolls are a litmus test for Lalu, who has tied up with Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party again after the Lok Sabha polls. He, however, failed to stitch up a pre-poll alliance with the Congress despite his best efforts.
The Congress has fielded candidates on all the 18 seats, making Lalu's task more daunting. A multi-cornered contest may help the JD-U. Perhaps that's why Lalu is desperate to discredit the CM.link
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Baby born with intestine outside stomach in Bihar
A baby girl was born at a nursing home here with her intestine protruding from the stomach, making it the second case of congenital anomaly in the state in less than two weeks when a child was born with his heart outside the chest.
The baby girl is now at the Patna Medical College Hospital and the hospital plans to either perform a corrective surgery in the PMCH or take her to AIIMS in New Delhi, where the boy with ectopia cordis (heart outside the chest) was successfully operated upon.
"The central abdominal defect has caused protrusion of small intestine outside her abdomen which is covered by membranes. Since the membrane is tough, there is no need for an urgent surgery," paediatric surgeon T P Gupta, attending on the baby, told.link
The baby girl is now at the Patna Medical College Hospital and the hospital plans to either perform a corrective surgery in the PMCH or take her to AIIMS in New Delhi, where the boy with ectopia cordis (heart outside the chest) was successfully operated upon.
"The central abdominal defect has caused protrusion of small intestine outside her abdomen which is covered by membranes. Since the membrane is tough, there is no need for an urgent surgery," paediatric surgeon T P Gupta, attending on the baby, told.link
CPI-ML activists burn job cards, BPL cards
Hundreds of CPI-ML (Liberation) activists burned job, red, yellow and white cards at the collectorate of Bihar's Bhojpur district here alleging short- supply of foodgrains and the difficulties the poor people face in drawing ration at subsidised rate, official sources said.
The CPI-ML workers led by its leader Kamata Prasad Singh assembled before the District Magistrate's office here yesterday and held demonstration for two hours.
They also burnt the cards in protest against alleged short-supply or lack of food grains.
Later, a delegation of party activists called on the District Magistrate Sabina A N and submitted a memorandum to him seeking action against the PDS dealers and hoarders.
When contacted, Sabina too admitted shortage of food grains in the district saying against the demand of 18,000 quintals for the BPL and APL families in the district, hardly 3,000 quintals to 4,000 quintals of food grains were being made available to the district per month.
He hoped that the problem would soon be resolved.link
The CPI-ML workers led by its leader Kamata Prasad Singh assembled before the District Magistrate's office here yesterday and held demonstration for two hours.
They also burnt the cards in protest against alleged short-supply or lack of food grains.
Later, a delegation of party activists called on the District Magistrate Sabina A N and submitted a memorandum to him seeking action against the PDS dealers and hoarders.
When contacted, Sabina too admitted shortage of food grains in the district saying against the demand of 18,000 quintals for the BPL and APL families in the district, hardly 3,000 quintals to 4,000 quintals of food grains were being made available to the district per month.
He hoped that the problem would soon be resolved.link
Monday 7 September 2009
Shatrughan Sinha against online pinda daan
After two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers, now actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha of the party has also come out against the Bihar government’s proposal for an online facility for Hindus to offer ‘pinda daan’ ritual, terming it a “short cut method” minus any “feeling”.
“It is neither proper nor practical to go for an online facility to offer pinda daan. I am against online pinda daan,” Sinha said of the ritual performed by Hindus for the dead.
Sinha performed the ritual Sunday for his parents and ancestors at the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya.
“The proposed online pinda daan is a shortcut method to perform the rituals without any real touch and feeling. But physical presence to perform the rite gives peace of mind. I favour that people should visit Gaya and in person perform the pinda daan,” Sinha said.
The actor said the ritual for his parents was overdue for a long time because he had been busy despite regularly visiting Patna, his native town, but he was able to perform the pinda daan personally at last. “It was an amazing experience, I fulfilled my duty,” he said.
Sinha’s view has been welcomed by Hindu priests who are against the proposed online facility.
In June, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had announced the government’s decision to introduce a video-conferencing facility for Indians abroad to perform pinda daan.
However, priests in the holy town of Gaya who have been conducting the ritual described the government’s decision as “interference” and an “attack on an age-old religious service”.
The priests won support from a section of the BJP, with ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey and Prem Kumar asking the government to reverse its decision.
Last month, the Bihar government decided to postpone its plan for an online facility.
Thousands of Hindus from across India and abroad gather in Gaya to offer pinda daan during the fortnight-long Pitrapaksh period that began last week. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath in Gaya.
“It is neither proper nor practical to go for an online facility to offer pinda daan. I am against online pinda daan,” Sinha said of the ritual performed by Hindus for the dead.
Sinha performed the ritual Sunday for his parents and ancestors at the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya.
“The proposed online pinda daan is a shortcut method to perform the rituals without any real touch and feeling. But physical presence to perform the rite gives peace of mind. I favour that people should visit Gaya and in person perform the pinda daan,” Sinha said.
The actor said the ritual for his parents was overdue for a long time because he had been busy despite regularly visiting Patna, his native town, but he was able to perform the pinda daan personally at last. “It was an amazing experience, I fulfilled my duty,” he said.
Sinha’s view has been welcomed by Hindu priests who are against the proposed online facility.
In June, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had announced the government’s decision to introduce a video-conferencing facility for Indians abroad to perform pinda daan.
However, priests in the holy town of Gaya who have been conducting the ritual described the government’s decision as “interference” and an “attack on an age-old religious service”.
The priests won support from a section of the BJP, with ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey and Prem Kumar asking the government to reverse its decision.
Last month, the Bihar government decided to postpone its plan for an online facility.
Thousands of Hindus from across India and abroad gather in Gaya to offer pinda daan during the fortnight-long Pitrapaksh period that began last week. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath in Gaya.
Sunday 6 September 2009
Bihar's Uppal gears up for international karate contest
Bihar's Patna Central School student Amrit Lekh Uppal, who has already earned a name and place for himself in karate at the national and world level championship fights, is now headed to participate in the Commonwealth Karate Championship to be held at Johannesberg, South Africa, in October this year.
He, however, would also require monetary support. Bihar Karate Black Belt treasurer Nisha Pal and vice-president Kajal Madhu have appealed to both CM Nitish Kumar and sports minister Renu Devi to provide support to meet the cost of journey to Johannesberg and back.
Whether the state government would respond to their call as morale boosting exercise is a moot point, it is wished for since the government has been promoting sports activities and also rewarding sportspersons of repute who have excelled even nationally.
At present, all attention of junior Uppal is focused on the Commonwealth Championship at Johannesberg, which would be held from October 15 and 17. The state's karate coach Guatam Kumar has been giving him training to further hone his skill in preparation for the new karate international contest in his career.
Earlier, in July this year, he performed well in Greece, and also won gold and silver medals at the national championship held in Kolkata. All India Karate Do Federation president R Tyagarajan has selected junior Uppal for the Commonwealth Championship. For this, the national karate coach Premjit Sen congratulated him on telephone from Kolkata. Congratulation also flowed from All India Seishinkai Shito-Ryu Karate Do Federation general secretary Malika Sen. Well wishers, however, have been hoping that he is on right track to also excel at Johannesberg.link
He, however, would also require monetary support. Bihar Karate Black Belt treasurer Nisha Pal and vice-president Kajal Madhu have appealed to both CM Nitish Kumar and sports minister Renu Devi to provide support to meet the cost of journey to Johannesberg and back.
Whether the state government would respond to their call as morale boosting exercise is a moot point, it is wished for since the government has been promoting sports activities and also rewarding sportspersons of repute who have excelled even nationally.
At present, all attention of junior Uppal is focused on the Commonwealth Championship at Johannesberg, which would be held from October 15 and 17. The state's karate coach Guatam Kumar has been giving him training to further hone his skill in preparation for the new karate international contest in his career.
Earlier, in July this year, he performed well in Greece, and also won gold and silver medals at the national championship held in Kolkata. All India Karate Do Federation president R Tyagarajan has selected junior Uppal for the Commonwealth Championship. For this, the national karate coach Premjit Sen congratulated him on telephone from Kolkata. Congratulation also flowed from All India Seishinkai Shito-Ryu Karate Do Federation general secretary Malika Sen. Well wishers, however, have been hoping that he is on right track to also excel at Johannesberg.link
Friday 4 September 2009
Praying for ancestors' salvation, Hindus head for Gaya
The Hindu holy town of Gaya in Bihar is set to attract up to 400,000 devotees who are coming here to perform the pinda daan, a religious service for dead ancestors, during the fortnight-long pitrupaksh beginning Friday.
"Pitrupaksh has begun amid tight security in view of threats of terrorists and other trouble makers," Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh told.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: "This time we expect more than four lakh people will come to Gaya to offer pind daan for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors during the pitrupaksha period."
Hindus believe offering pinda daan during the pitru paksh period ensures salvation for the wandering souls of their ancestors.
"The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead," priest Murari Lal said.
Gaya, about 100 km from state capital Patna, is considered the holiest place for the purpose. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath, here.
The town drawing a large number of people from all parts of India and abroad every year during pitrupaksh, the 15 days of the waning moon during the Hindu month of Ashwin.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered on the banks of the Falgu river here.
According to a priest, the rituals are conducted at nearly 50 vedis, or altars, the more important ones being Vishnupad, Ramshila, Pretshila, Baiterni, Akshay Vat and Mahabodhi temple.
Gayawal pandas, claiming to be superior priests, perform the rituals.
It is mandatory for the devotees offering pinda daan to shave their heads and take a holy dip and head for the Baitarni pond. However, some rituals are conducted in the Falgu river nearby.
The prayers are performed at the famous Vishnupad temple named after Lord Vishnu.
"Pitrupaksh has begun amid tight security in view of threats of terrorists and other trouble makers," Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh told.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: "This time we expect more than four lakh people will come to Gaya to offer pind daan for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors during the pitrupaksha period."
Hindus believe offering pinda daan during the pitru paksh period ensures salvation for the wandering souls of their ancestors.
"The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead," priest Murari Lal said.
Gaya, about 100 km from state capital Patna, is considered the holiest place for the purpose. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath, here.
The town drawing a large number of people from all parts of India and abroad every year during pitrupaksh, the 15 days of the waning moon during the Hindu month of Ashwin.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered on the banks of the Falgu river here.
According to a priest, the rituals are conducted at nearly 50 vedis, or altars, the more important ones being Vishnupad, Ramshila, Pretshila, Baiterni, Akshay Vat and Mahabodhi temple.
Gayawal pandas, claiming to be superior priests, perform the rituals.
It is mandatory for the devotees offering pinda daan to shave their heads and take a holy dip and head for the Baitarni pond. However, some rituals are conducted in the Falgu river nearby.
The prayers are performed at the famous Vishnupad temple named after Lord Vishnu.
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Summons to Bihar chief minister in 1991 case
A Bihar court has issued summons to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a case relating to firing at an election booth during the 1991 Lok Sabha elections.
The Barh sub divisional judicial magistrate’s court issued the summons to Nitish Kumar Wednesday, as he was an “accused” along with three others in the case, official sources said.
Nitish Kumar was a candidate from Barh Lok Sabha seat in the 1991 parliamentary elections.
One man was killed in the firing at an election booth.
The Barh sub divisional judicial magistrate’s court issued the summons to Nitish Kumar Wednesday, as he was an “accused” along with three others in the case, official sources said.
Nitish Kumar was a candidate from Barh Lok Sabha seat in the 1991 parliamentary elections.
One man was killed in the firing at an election booth.
Three women killed in temple stampede
Three women were killed and at least 50 people injured in a stampede at a hilltop temple in Bihar's Jehanabad district on Thursday morning, police said.
The stampede occurred when hundreds of Hindu devotees were offering prayers at the hilltop Siddhnath temple in Jehanabad district.
"A rumour spread like wildfire that a railing had broken and it created panic among the devotees causing the stampede," a police officer said.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Jehanabad District Magistrate Palka Sahni said that a medical team had been rushed to the site. link
The stampede occurred when hundreds of Hindu devotees were offering prayers at the hilltop Siddhnath temple in Jehanabad district.
"A rumour spread like wildfire that a railing had broken and it created panic among the devotees causing the stampede," a police officer said.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Jehanabad District Magistrate Palka Sahni said that a medical team had been rushed to the site. link
Government Initiates Study on Rapid Metro Rail for Patna
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, at a press conference at Bihar Chamber of Commerce in Patna on Wednesday, said that the state government was mulling the idea of having a rapid transit rail system on the line of Delhi Metro Rail to deal with the traffic quandary that plagues the capital city due to rise in automobile ownership.
Modi said that the state has entrusted the Infrastructure Development Authority, Bihar, to prepare a feasibility report to develop metro trains in Patna after the Central government appealed to all the cities with a population of 10 lakh or above to find out possibilities of having alternate transit system to lessen over-crowding on the streets and minimize pollution in the urban areas.
"The goal is to develop a transit system that is capable of handling the growing population of Patna by the time it reaches 20 lakh," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
The state Urban Development department has asked the Infrastructure Development Authority to study the current traffic pattern, available public transportation system, its pluses and minuses, and the geographical availability in the state capital to prepare its report that would also form the basis of the administration's traffic policy, Modi said.link
Modi said that the state has entrusted the Infrastructure Development Authority, Bihar, to prepare a feasibility report to develop metro trains in Patna after the Central government appealed to all the cities with a population of 10 lakh or above to find out possibilities of having alternate transit system to lessen over-crowding on the streets and minimize pollution in the urban areas.
"The goal is to develop a transit system that is capable of handling the growing population of Patna by the time it reaches 20 lakh," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
The state Urban Development department has asked the Infrastructure Development Authority to study the current traffic pattern, available public transportation system, its pluses and minuses, and the geographical availability in the state capital to prepare its report that would also form the basis of the administration's traffic policy, Modi said.link
Minor from Bihar rescued from wedding
Alert residents of Dadumajra village saved a minor girl from being married off to a 25-year-old man on Wednesday when they rushed to inform the police, who swooped down in time at the wedding venue to arrest four persons, including the priest, even as half a dozen invitees along with the groom managed to slip away.
Registering a case under sections 10 and 11 against all accused under the Prohibition of Child and Marriage Act, 2006, sub-inspector Baldev Kumar, incharge of Maloya police post, said, “As soon as we got information from Jagar Singh that the wedding of a 12-year-old girl was being solemnised in Maa Durga Temple, a police team raided the spot.” But spoiling the party for cops were groom Ganesh, a vegetable vendor, and the girl’s paternal uncle who escaped arrest along with many others.
“We, however, nabbed the girl’s mother Sita Devi, aunt Amrita, the temple’s priest Madan Lal and groom’s sister Seema Devi,” added cops. Sita landed in city from Bihar two days ago to get her daughter married. “But Anil was the main culprit as he pushed for the alliance,” said a cop. Sita claimed poverty had driven her to take such a step as she was no longer able to take care of her daughter even as rumours of money exchanging hands in the whole affair flew thick and fast. link
Registering a case under sections 10 and 11 against all accused under the Prohibition of Child and Marriage Act, 2006, sub-inspector Baldev Kumar, incharge of Maloya police post, said, “As soon as we got information from Jagar Singh that the wedding of a 12-year-old girl was being solemnised in Maa Durga Temple, a police team raided the spot.” But spoiling the party for cops were groom Ganesh, a vegetable vendor, and the girl’s paternal uncle who escaped arrest along with many others.
“We, however, nabbed the girl’s mother Sita Devi, aunt Amrita, the temple’s priest Madan Lal and groom’s sister Seema Devi,” added cops. Sita landed in city from Bihar two days ago to get her daughter married. “But Anil was the main culprit as he pushed for the alliance,” said a cop. Sita claimed poverty had driven her to take such a step as she was no longer able to take care of her daughter even as rumours of money exchanging hands in the whole affair flew thick and fast. link
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Baby born with heart outside chest in Bihar
Five-day old baby is being described as a miracle after he survived being born with heart outside of this chest.
Vibha Devi, who was born on Thursday in a remote rural village in India’s Bihar state, was rushed by 24hr train to the capital by his desperate father.
Leaving his wife behind, Chander Manjhi and his father-in-law travelled to Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to try to save the child’s life.
During a complete check-up doctors found the baby also has multiple disorders. Apart from the protruding heart, he also has a hole in his heart and has a single pump (for pumping blood). A normal heart has two pumps.
Suffering from a condition known as Ectopia Cordis, which causes the heart to be abnormally placed inside or outside of the body, most babies die within hours of being born.
However, there is guarded optimism for Vibha after the child survived the arduous 800-mile train journey from Muzaffarpur to Delhi.
“He is stable and is being treated for infection. Once the infection goes, we will do the surgery,” said Dr A.K. Bisoi, a cardiologist at the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department at AIIMS.
“His parents are lucky the baby is still alive even after infection as it has spread to all body parts. We are trying our best to save the baby.”
Due to the family’s income and the rarity of the child’s condition, cardiologists at AIIMS, including Dr Bisoi, are providing treatment for free.
A team of five surgeons is on stand-by to operate should Vibha survive the next few weeks.
“The surgery is a multi-layered procedure and might take months,” said Dr Bisoi.
“We have to create space step by step and the chest wall has to be reconstructed.
“In India, no infant with such a defect has survived,” Dr Bisoi added.
There are only three survivors suffering from the disease in the world. But this baby is the only one with two heart defects,’ he said.
‘It’s a miracle and challenge for doctors. Every extra day he survives gives us an opportunity to deal with the rare disease and we are learning a lot from the case. We are doing our best to ensure the child lives,’ Bisoi said.
For now, the baby’s heart has been covered with a synthetic membrane and infected blood fully replaced from his body.
In 2006, doctors in Florida, U.S. carried out a similar operation on Naseem Hasni who was born with his heart outside his chest.
Doctors wrapped his heart in Gore-Tex, a waterproof, breathable fabric used in outdoor clothing and medical applications. His heart was then wrapped in a layer of his own skin, to substitute for his missing pericardium, the sac that encloses the heart. The heart was then slowly eased inside his chest.link
Vibha Devi, who was born on Thursday in a remote rural village in India’s Bihar state, was rushed by 24hr train to the capital by his desperate father.
Leaving his wife behind, Chander Manjhi and his father-in-law travelled to Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to try to save the child’s life.
During a complete check-up doctors found the baby also has multiple disorders. Apart from the protruding heart, he also has a hole in his heart and has a single pump (for pumping blood). A normal heart has two pumps.
Suffering from a condition known as Ectopia Cordis, which causes the heart to be abnormally placed inside or outside of the body, most babies die within hours of being born.
However, there is guarded optimism for Vibha after the child survived the arduous 800-mile train journey from Muzaffarpur to Delhi.
“He is stable and is being treated for infection. Once the infection goes, we will do the surgery,” said Dr A.K. Bisoi, a cardiologist at the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department at AIIMS.
“His parents are lucky the baby is still alive even after infection as it has spread to all body parts. We are trying our best to save the baby.”
Due to the family’s income and the rarity of the child’s condition, cardiologists at AIIMS, including Dr Bisoi, are providing treatment for free.
A team of five surgeons is on stand-by to operate should Vibha survive the next few weeks.
“The surgery is a multi-layered procedure and might take months,” said Dr Bisoi.
“We have to create space step by step and the chest wall has to be reconstructed.
“In India, no infant with such a defect has survived,” Dr Bisoi added.
There are only three survivors suffering from the disease in the world. But this baby is the only one with two heart defects,’ he said.
‘It’s a miracle and challenge for doctors. Every extra day he survives gives us an opportunity to deal with the rare disease and we are learning a lot from the case. We are doing our best to ensure the child lives,’ Bisoi said.
For now, the baby’s heart has been covered with a synthetic membrane and infected blood fully replaced from his body.
In 2006, doctors in Florida, U.S. carried out a similar operation on Naseem Hasni who was born with his heart outside his chest.
Doctors wrapped his heart in Gore-Tex, a waterproof, breathable fabric used in outdoor clothing and medical applications. His heart was then wrapped in a layer of his own skin, to substitute for his missing pericardium, the sac that encloses the heart. The heart was then slowly eased inside his chest.link
Bihar records plantation of one crore saplings in a single day
An IAS officer of Bihar cadre created history of sorts by planting nearly 1 crore saplings in a single day.
The Guinness Book of World Records has registered plantation of 5,41,176 saplings on July 15 this year in Pakistan. Bihar did it 20 times more and edged out Pakistan from the record book.
The man behind the mission is Tirhut Commissioner SM Raju, who hails from Karnataka and is an agriculture graduate.
“I’ve been nursing a dream to plant 1 crore saplings in a single day for two years. I achieved this goal through active cooperation of village panchayats and mukhias of my division,” Raju said.
Raju engaged 3 lakh people from 8,463 panchayats and 7,500 villages of six districts of Tirhut division. “We planted the 96,19,870 saplings under the rural job scheme NREG,” said an ebullient Raju.
He said though he had been planning for this day for two years, when he got the news of Pakistan’s Environment Ministry getting the Guinness certification, he decided to beat their record as soon as possible.
“I discussed my idea with the Bihar Chief Secretary and with the blessings of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, I plunged into this mission and ultimately succeeded,” said Raju.
“With groups of four families each planting 200 trees; now they must protect the saplings for three years, till the plants grow sturdy. During this period, they will be paid,” Raju said.
He has charted out a blueprint to protect the planted trees and to provide job to villagers simultaneously through his mission.
“Since Tirhut region in north Bihar is a flood-prone area, mukhias here find themselves unable to provide jobs to poor villagers throughout the year. So I’ve engaged them into this programme,” Raju said.
The workers will get the full pay of about Rs 102 under the rural job scheme if they can ensure the survival of 90 per cent of the plants under their care. For a 75-80 per cent survival rate, they will be paid only half the wage. If the survival rate is less than 75 per cent, the families in the group will be replaced.
The villagers of Tirhut have vowed to protect the trees at any cost and they’re taking constant vigil to the planted saplings.
“They seem to feel as if the trees they are protecting belong to them,” Raju said.
The non-fruit trees like neem, jamun, gulmohar and peepal have been planted along the state and national highways while the fruit-bearing saplings such as the guava, mango, litchi, lemon and amla were planted in the villages.
Raju explained that this tree plantation mission will promote social forestry in flood-affected areas of north Bihar.
A total sum of Rs 700 crore would be spent on this scheme in three years, said Raju, who was also actively associated with the Chief Minister’s much-praised Vikas Yatra.
Now, a beaming and confident Raju hopes to get his mission and the name of the State reflected in The Guinness Book.
The Guinness Book of World Records has registered plantation of 5,41,176 saplings on July 15 this year in Pakistan. Bihar did it 20 times more and edged out Pakistan from the record book.
The man behind the mission is Tirhut Commissioner SM Raju, who hails from Karnataka and is an agriculture graduate.
“I’ve been nursing a dream to plant 1 crore saplings in a single day for two years. I achieved this goal through active cooperation of village panchayats and mukhias of my division,” Raju said.
Raju engaged 3 lakh people from 8,463 panchayats and 7,500 villages of six districts of Tirhut division. “We planted the 96,19,870 saplings under the rural job scheme NREG,” said an ebullient Raju.
He said though he had been planning for this day for two years, when he got the news of Pakistan’s Environment Ministry getting the Guinness certification, he decided to beat their record as soon as possible.
“I discussed my idea with the Bihar Chief Secretary and with the blessings of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, I plunged into this mission and ultimately succeeded,” said Raju.
“With groups of four families each planting 200 trees; now they must protect the saplings for three years, till the plants grow sturdy. During this period, they will be paid,” Raju said.
He has charted out a blueprint to protect the planted trees and to provide job to villagers simultaneously through his mission.
“Since Tirhut region in north Bihar is a flood-prone area, mukhias here find themselves unable to provide jobs to poor villagers throughout the year. So I’ve engaged them into this programme,” Raju said.
The workers will get the full pay of about Rs 102 under the rural job scheme if they can ensure the survival of 90 per cent of the plants under their care. For a 75-80 per cent survival rate, they will be paid only half the wage. If the survival rate is less than 75 per cent, the families in the group will be replaced.
The villagers of Tirhut have vowed to protect the trees at any cost and they’re taking constant vigil to the planted saplings.
“They seem to feel as if the trees they are protecting belong to them,” Raju said.
The non-fruit trees like neem, jamun, gulmohar and peepal have been planted along the state and national highways while the fruit-bearing saplings such as the guava, mango, litchi, lemon and amla were planted in the villages.
Raju explained that this tree plantation mission will promote social forestry in flood-affected areas of north Bihar.
A total sum of Rs 700 crore would be spent on this scheme in three years, said Raju, who was also actively associated with the Chief Minister’s much-praised Vikas Yatra.
Now, a beaming and confident Raju hopes to get his mission and the name of the State reflected in The Guinness Book.
Tourist flow goes up in Bihar
The initiatives taken by Bihar government to boost the sagging tourism sector has begun to pay dividends as the number of foreign tourists in the state has gone up by nearly six times in three years.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Bihar has gone up from 63,321 in 2005-06 to 3,56,446 in 2008-09, which was nearly six times, state's tourism minister Ram Pravesh Rai said.
Rai said steady and healthy growth in the number of foreign and domestic tourists was the result of state's NDA government's concerted efforts to create a conducive environment and its commitment to provide better security to them.
"People (tourists) are now feeling safe and secured in the NDA regime and that's why they are visiting Bihar in big numbers", Rai said.
The number of foreigners visited the state in 2005-06 was 63,321 which rose to 94,446 in 2006-07. Similarly, it went up to 1,77,362 in 2007-08 and was almost doubled in the very next year to touch 3,56,446 foreigners in 2008-09. More than 1.14 lakh foreigners have visited till the end of April in the current fiscal.
Similarly, there has been steady rise in the domestic tourists also, except in 2007-08 when it showed a little decline. The number of domestic tourists, which was 86.87 lakh in 2005-06, was hovering over one crore in subsequent years and touched its all time high to 1.21 crore in 2008-09.
Realising the huge potential of tourism in Bihar, which was home to a number of Buddhist, Jain and Sikh shrines, the NDA government increased budgetary allocation to tourism department after coming to power in November, 2005.
The government made a substantial allocation from a meagre Rs 7.43 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 29.78 crore in the current financial year (2009-10) which was almost a four-time raise, the minister said.
Rai said the department has formulated a tourism policy to provide impetus to the sector which has also been accorded the status of industry by the state government.
With a view to making travel more convenient for all tourists including foreigners, steps were underway for broadening and strengthening roads linking to Buddhist, Jain, Sikh religious circuits, official sources said.
Talks were also on with several aviation companies for increasing the frequency of international flights connecting Bodh Gaya airport.
To woo the foreigners, the government has decided to build a three and five star rated hotels at tourist spots such as Patna, Rajgir and Bodh Gaya on public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Tourism Police Force would be deployed at Gaya, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali in the first phase and subsequently the force would be stationed at all the tourist sites.
The government was committed to develop tourist sites at Vaishali, Jehanabad, Maner, Kesariya, Lauria, Nandangarh, to attract more tourists, the minister said.
The government has plans to launch courses in travel and tourism, hospitality, hotel management, catering guide, tour and travel operator with assistance from Human Resources Development department to promote greater expertise for improved management of the tourism sector. link
The number of foreign tourists visiting Bihar has gone up from 63,321 in 2005-06 to 3,56,446 in 2008-09, which was nearly six times, state's tourism minister Ram Pravesh Rai said.
Rai said steady and healthy growth in the number of foreign and domestic tourists was the result of state's NDA government's concerted efforts to create a conducive environment and its commitment to provide better security to them.
"People (tourists) are now feeling safe and secured in the NDA regime and that's why they are visiting Bihar in big numbers", Rai said.
The number of foreigners visited the state in 2005-06 was 63,321 which rose to 94,446 in 2006-07. Similarly, it went up to 1,77,362 in 2007-08 and was almost doubled in the very next year to touch 3,56,446 foreigners in 2008-09. More than 1.14 lakh foreigners have visited till the end of April in the current fiscal.
Similarly, there has been steady rise in the domestic tourists also, except in 2007-08 when it showed a little decline. The number of domestic tourists, which was 86.87 lakh in 2005-06, was hovering over one crore in subsequent years and touched its all time high to 1.21 crore in 2008-09.
Realising the huge potential of tourism in Bihar, which was home to a number of Buddhist, Jain and Sikh shrines, the NDA government increased budgetary allocation to tourism department after coming to power in November, 2005.
The government made a substantial allocation from a meagre Rs 7.43 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 29.78 crore in the current financial year (2009-10) which was almost a four-time raise, the minister said.
Rai said the department has formulated a tourism policy to provide impetus to the sector which has also been accorded the status of industry by the state government.
With a view to making travel more convenient for all tourists including foreigners, steps were underway for broadening and strengthening roads linking to Buddhist, Jain, Sikh religious circuits, official sources said.
Talks were also on with several aviation companies for increasing the frequency of international flights connecting Bodh Gaya airport.
To woo the foreigners, the government has decided to build a three and five star rated hotels at tourist spots such as Patna, Rajgir and Bodh Gaya on public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Tourism Police Force would be deployed at Gaya, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali in the first phase and subsequently the force would be stationed at all the tourist sites.
The government was committed to develop tourist sites at Vaishali, Jehanabad, Maner, Kesariya, Lauria, Nandangarh, to attract more tourists, the minister said.
The government has plans to launch courses in travel and tourism, hospitality, hotel management, catering guide, tour and travel operator with assistance from Human Resources Development department to promote greater expertise for improved management of the tourism sector. link
BSNL launches Nova Net PC in Bihar
With a view to expand the usage of internet among the people particularly in rural areas, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has launched a multi-featured computing service Nova net PC bundled with broadband over landline for both urban and rural areas in Bihar.
"BSNL has been constantly striving to have broadband penetration in the country especially in rural areas. With our huge connectivity and infrastructure, BSNL hopes to give a new wind to the computing and broadband revolution in the country, Chief General Manager, Bihar Telecom Circle S C Mishra said.
The Nova net PC, launched in association with Noavtium Solution Private Limited, can be used for both internet access and computing applications at economical prices, Mishra said.
In urban areas, Nova Net PC would be delivered to the users against a one-time payment of Rs 2,999 and tax, the BSNL chief GM said.
However, in rural areas, the system would be made available to the broadband users under USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund) scheme which means that rural users would have to pay a secuirty deposit of Rs 1900 which was refundable if the facility was used for three years continuously, Mishra said.
The rural users, if they opted for Nova Net PC, would be provided with CRT Monitor, Modem, Keyboard and Mouse free of cost, he said.
The idea behind this shceme was to take broadband to the rural areas whcih was possible only by bundling it with the landline connections, Mishra said.
He said that the state has 38,000 broadband users till date and it (BSNL) has set a target to add 80,000 new subscriber by the end of the financial year 2009-10 with this launch.
The telecom department has also introduced two monthly rental plans for the broadband users in rural areas under USOF scheme.
The first one was of Rs 99 under which the users would be given 400 MB free download/upload whereas second monthly plan of Rs 150 provided 1GB free usage.link
"BSNL has been constantly striving to have broadband penetration in the country especially in rural areas. With our huge connectivity and infrastructure, BSNL hopes to give a new wind to the computing and broadband revolution in the country, Chief General Manager, Bihar Telecom Circle S C Mishra said.
The Nova net PC, launched in association with Noavtium Solution Private Limited, can be used for both internet access and computing applications at economical prices, Mishra said.
In urban areas, Nova Net PC would be delivered to the users against a one-time payment of Rs 2,999 and tax, the BSNL chief GM said.
However, in rural areas, the system would be made available to the broadband users under USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund) scheme which means that rural users would have to pay a secuirty deposit of Rs 1900 which was refundable if the facility was used for three years continuously, Mishra said.
The rural users, if they opted for Nova Net PC, would be provided with CRT Monitor, Modem, Keyboard and Mouse free of cost, he said.
The idea behind this shceme was to take broadband to the rural areas whcih was possible only by bundling it with the landline connections, Mishra said.
He said that the state has 38,000 broadband users till date and it (BSNL) has set a target to add 80,000 new subscriber by the end of the financial year 2009-10 with this launch.
The telecom department has also introduced two monthly rental plans for the broadband users in rural areas under USOF scheme.
The first one was of Rs 99 under which the users would be given 400 MB free download/upload whereas second monthly plan of Rs 150 provided 1GB free usage.link
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