This is much more than the national average of 8.49%, making it the second fastest-growing state in the country. It has, of course, benefited from a low base effect since the state has long been a growth laggard, but governments before Mr Kumar had been unable to accelerate economic growth.
The output growth is a consequence of the restoration of normalcy. Kidnappings for ransom are no longer creating headlines, teachers have returned to schools and colleges, and doctors and nurses to primary health centres.
Villages and towns are being connected by a vast network of roads. Institutions are seeing a revival. Among Mr Kumar’s biggest achievements is the move to empower women—an experiment now being replicated in other states. Soon after assuming power, the state government decided to reserve 50% of the seats in panchayats and urban local bodies for women. The decision was hailed as a “revolutionary” step aimed at involving women in the decision-making process and giving them a voice in the political system.
The affable, soft-spoken chief minister has also made concerted efforts to improve education, health and infrastructure. In educational, the emphasis has been on persuading children to go to school. He kicked off two ambitious projects—Mukhyamantri Poshak Yojana and Mukhyamantri Cycle Yojana—to convince parents to send their daughters to school. All girl students above Class VIII were given free uniforms and a bicycle each. “The result has been remarkable. The drop-out rate among high school girl students has come down dramatically from 25 lakh to 10 lakh. So successful has the programme been that it’s now being extended to boys,” the Bihar CM pointed out.
The government simultaneously recruited 1 lakh teachers to attain a teacher-student ratio of 1:40, or one teacher for every 40 students. Schools in villages , which had become dilapidated because of the years of neglect, have been re-built and renovated.
In a state where poverty levels are still high, the health sector had taken a severe knock in the past few decades. Primary health centres (PHC) had been rendered non-functional , and doctors had stopped visiting them. The government has now appointed 25,000 doctors on contract, and a scheme has been launched to provide 102 free medicines to patients. The sector has, because of these measures, seen an impressive revival. Studies conducted in the state have shown that while, previously, only 39 patients visited a PHC every month on an average, the figure has shot up to 4,500 every month. Again, because of a series of incentives offered by the state administration, institutional deliveries, which were only 45,000 in 2005-06 , had gone up to 3.12 lakh by July this year.
Aware that no meaningful development can take place if the infrastructure is below par, the state government embarked on an ambitious mission to improve it. Thus, while just 318 km of roads were built in 2004-05 , 2,418 km of roads were constructed in 2008-09 . And while only 316 bridges could be constructed between 1975 and 2005, some 400 bridges have been built since this government came to power.link
Monday 4 January 2010
Saturday 2 January 2010
High security for Dalai Lama's visit to Bodh Gaya
High security arrangements were put in place for the visit of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to Bodh Gaya in Bihar where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.
The Dalai Lama will spend a week in Bodh Gaya, starting Jan 4. He will pray at the Mahabodhi temple, said Tenzing Lama of the Tibetan monastery at Bodh Gaya.
'A fool proof security will be in place for Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's visit to Bodh Gaya as he faces serious threat to his life,' an official said Sunday.
Tenzing Lama said Dalai Lama will give a five-day programme of teachings at Bodh Gaya from Jan 5-9.
'Over 50,000 people from all over the world are expected to assemble at Bodh Gaya's Kalchakra Maidan to hear a discourse by the Dalai Lama,' he said.
Thousands of Tibetans have already arrived in Bodh Gaya from all across India to attend Dalai Lama's meeting. A local police officer said Bodh Gaya has turned into a mini-Tibet with the huge gathering of Tibetans.
The 1,500-years-old holiest Buddhist shrine Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, 110 km from here, is where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago.link
The Dalai Lama will spend a week in Bodh Gaya, starting Jan 4. He will pray at the Mahabodhi temple, said Tenzing Lama of the Tibetan monastery at Bodh Gaya.
'A fool proof security will be in place for Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's visit to Bodh Gaya as he faces serious threat to his life,' an official said Sunday.
Tenzing Lama said Dalai Lama will give a five-day programme of teachings at Bodh Gaya from Jan 5-9.
'Over 50,000 people from all over the world are expected to assemble at Bodh Gaya's Kalchakra Maidan to hear a discourse by the Dalai Lama,' he said.
Thousands of Tibetans have already arrived in Bodh Gaya from all across India to attend Dalai Lama's meeting. A local police officer said Bodh Gaya has turned into a mini-Tibet with the huge gathering of Tibetans.
The 1,500-years-old holiest Buddhist shrine Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, 110 km from here, is where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago.link
Cold wave, icy winds grip Bihar
A cold wave has gripped Bihar with icy winds sweeping across many parts of the state. Dense fog has also led to several long distance trains running late, officials said Sunday.
Most of the schools were to reopen after winter vacations Monday but the Patna district administration has extended the holidays by two days due to the cold wave.
People in rural areas also faced intense chill due to icy westerly winds blowing across the state.
Muzaffarpur district recorded a minimum temperature of 6 degrees Celsius Sunday morning while it was 7 degrees in Purnea and Kishanganj.
An official at the meteorological department here said Patna district recorded 8.8 degrees Celsius and added that the cold wave would continue in the coming days.
"There will be no respite from the cold wave. The westerlies blowing will keep the weather cold for the next two days at least," the official said.
Heavy fog and poor visibility have also delayed long route trains, officials said.
While most people preferred to stay indoors, the poor were seen huddled around fires to keep themselves warm in the cloudy, foggy weather. link
Most of the schools were to reopen after winter vacations Monday but the Patna district administration has extended the holidays by two days due to the cold wave.
People in rural areas also faced intense chill due to icy westerly winds blowing across the state.
Muzaffarpur district recorded a minimum temperature of 6 degrees Celsius Sunday morning while it was 7 degrees in Purnea and Kishanganj.
An official at the meteorological department here said Patna district recorded 8.8 degrees Celsius and added that the cold wave would continue in the coming days.
"There will be no respite from the cold wave. The westerlies blowing will keep the weather cold for the next two days at least," the official said.
Heavy fog and poor visibility have also delayed long route trains, officials said.
While most people preferred to stay indoors, the poor were seen huddled around fires to keep themselves warm in the cloudy, foggy weather. link
Bihar on high alert after Maoists threat
After receiving intelligence reports that the Maoists are planning to blow up railway installations, security has been tightened in Bihar.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel frisked passengers and checked their luggage with bomb detection devices, and stepped up patrolling of platforms as a part of the drill.
Officials said a high alert was ordered since there was information that some anti-social elements from neighbouring Nepal had sneaked into the city.
"We are searching railway tracks. A high alert has been issued after observing the activities of Maoist rebels. We also received information that some anti-social elements sneaked in the region that is why we tightened the security," said Santosh Kumar, RPF official.link
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel frisked passengers and checked their luggage with bomb detection devices, and stepped up patrolling of platforms as a part of the drill.
Officials said a high alert was ordered since there was information that some anti-social elements from neighbouring Nepal had sneaked into the city.
"We are searching railway tracks. A high alert has been issued after observing the activities of Maoist rebels. We also received information that some anti-social elements sneaked in the region that is why we tightened the security," said Santosh Kumar, RPF official.link
Cop Shoots Two Colleagues, himself Dead
A policeman shot two colleagues dead before turning the gun on himself in Bihar's Aurangabad district, police said Saturday.
Pulwender Singh, a Special Auxiliary Police constable, shot dead Kishore Singh and Anil Kumar late Friday night and then shot himself.
All three were posted at Mufassil police station in Aurangabad town.
Aurangabad Superintendent of Police N.K. Tiwari said the police were trying to find out the reason for the killings. link
Pulwender Singh, a Special Auxiliary Police constable, shot dead Kishore Singh and Anil Kumar late Friday night and then shot himself.
All three were posted at Mufassil police station in Aurangabad town.
Aurangabad Superintendent of Police N.K. Tiwari said the police were trying to find out the reason for the killings. link
SSB jawans ransack shops, assault people in Madhubani
A group of Sashastra Seema Bal jawans, guarding the country's 1752-km border with Nepal, have allegedly ransacked several shops, vandalised a local MLA's vehicle and assaulted some civilians, sparking widespread protests by the people today, police said.
According to police, the SSB personnel went on the rampage after some of their colleagues were attacked and injured by a group of drunken youths following an altercation with them last night.
As the news of the "unruly" behaviour of the jawans spread, angry locals enforced closure of shops and markets and blocked roads in the town this morning.
They also jammed the railway tracks at Rajnagar railway station disrupting movement of Gangasagar Express and Janaki Express for several hours, police said.
The agitation was called off after the district authorities assured them of taking legal action against the erring jawans, they added.link
According to police, the SSB personnel went on the rampage after some of their colleagues were attacked and injured by a group of drunken youths following an altercation with them last night.
As the news of the "unruly" behaviour of the jawans spread, angry locals enforced closure of shops and markets and blocked roads in the town this morning.
They also jammed the railway tracks at Rajnagar railway station disrupting movement of Gangasagar Express and Janaki Express for several hours, police said.
The agitation was called off after the district authorities assured them of taking legal action against the erring jawans, they added.link
Friday 1 January 2010
Driver killed as Lichavi Express rams into Magadh Express
Amid dense fog, the Bihar-bound Lichavi Express rammed into the stationary Magadh Express at Saraibhopat near Etawah early on Saturday, killing the driver of one of the trains.
The driver of the Delhi-Sitamhari Lichavi Express was killed in the mishap, railway sources said.
The Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express was waiting at Saraibhopat when the Lichavi Express hit it from behind.link
The driver of the Delhi-Sitamhari Lichavi Express was killed in the mishap, railway sources said.
The Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express was waiting at Saraibhopat when the Lichavi Express hit it from behind.link
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