MSMEs in Bihar needsupport from all corners

About 95% of the industries in Bihar fall under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) category, of which, according to a recent RBI report, only 5% were exposed to banks.

Difficulty in obtaining capital, inadequate and unreliable power supply, zero access to modern technology, dearth of latest information and lack of market and infrastructure were outlined as the major reasons for the dismal growth of MSMEs in the state, at a conference for "Facilitating Finance for MSMEs in Bihar".

"MSME sector is at a very nascent stage in Bihar and needs much more aid than just finance", said, Satyajit Singh, CEO, Shakti Sudha Makhana, at the meeting of entrepreneurs and bankers of the state. He suggested the formation of a task force of stakeholders of MSMEs under the government that would address the reasons of sickness in the sector and recommend solutions for its development in a time-bound manner.

Minister of industry and disaster management, Bihar, Renu Kumari Kushwaha, who was the chief guest on the occasion, assured the delegates of the state government's help and said, "These conferences enable us to deliberate various aspects of MSMEs. However, it's time to take such coffee-table assemblage to villages and districts so that the actual stakeholders are be able to benefit from it."

The minister lambasted the financial institutions who assure of help at such platforms but get into "technicalities and formalities" when entrepreneurs approach them to seek finance. Kushwaha said, "We have also sent a proposal (to the Centre) for establishment of an institute in the state that would be a skill development and training centre for food processing industries."

Also present on the occasion was RBI general manager C S Azad, who informed the participants about the customer-friendly "Application Tracking System" by the Union government, where loan applications and their status tracking could be done online and the banks would have to give reasons if they decline finance. "However, only a few banks have started it and it is still in pipeline at most banks," said Azad. He added that RBI had altered the definition of "sickness" on November 1 to recognize sick MSME units early and take necessary action to revive them.

MSME Development Institute director Pradeep Kumar said, "Credit-Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) and Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) are two schemes of the government where bank loans up to Rs 1 crore are given without any collateral. However, even bankers are not quite aware about the schemes." He added that awareness programmes for bankers would be held in four districts, including Patna, Bhojpur and Bhagalpur.

The daylong conference was organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce of Industries (PHDand Central Bank of India. Also present at the conference were Debjit Talapatra, director (states), PHDCCI, Pushpa Chopra, president, Bihar Mahila Udyog, K P S Keshri, president, BIA, A K Mallik, director, department of industry, Bihar and S C Singh, zonal manager, Central Bank of India.

Bihar 7th on list of tourist arrivals among 10 state

Bihar ranked seventh among 10 states of the country in receiving the highest number of foreign tourists last year. The states ahead of it in the list include Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal. Buddhist sites like the Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, the ruins of ancient Nalanda University and the Stupa at Vaishali, which yielded Lord Buddha’s relic, have remained hot favourites among tourists, particuarly from the Buddhist countries.

Besides, the recently launched cruise tourism in river Ganga, too, has also attracted a number of foreign tourists from Germany, UK and France.

Enthused by the trend, tourism minister Sunil Kumar Pintu said, “Take a look at the footfall of foreign tourists in the state. A ministry of tourism report says, one out of six foreign tourists is heading towards Bihar to visit our historical sites. It also says, that the state received more holidayers from abroad than Goa, which is considered the hotspot among foreigners due to its beaches.”

The minister said, that the number of foreign tourists in the state was expected to cross 10 lakh this year. “More than 8.4 lakh foreign tourists have already visited different historical sites of the state between January and August this year and more are expected in the coming tourism season, which will start from October. In 2011, the total number of international tourists coming here was pitched at 8.78 lakh.” he added.

Pintu said, the latest report showed a more than ten-fold increase in the number of foreign tourists in the last one decade. “Not just that. We have started taking steps to attract more foreign as well domestic tourists. A road show on Bihar tourism was conducted during an international meet at Mauritius last month. And, we have also participated in the ongoing four-day world travel market (WTM), 2012, in London,” he said. Pintu said, out of nine pavilions booked by India tourism, one has been allotted to Bihar tourism to showcase its rich historical background for the benefit of foreigners.

River Ganga, a Source of Cancer

Ganga is considered the sacred river and the deep bond that the people of India share with this spiritual entity is immense. Now this bond is making many pay a high price, after being diagnosed with cancer. The river was placed on the list of five most polluted rivers back in 2007. Adding to the state of its pollution in is the raised amount of industrial waste which is drained out into the river ravaging it further into a life threatening source, contradicting its real purpose.
Traces of heavy metals and mercury has been detected in the river water says a survey compiled by the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRG) supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research. It has resulted in the largest number of gall bladder cancer cases worldwide, especially among the Indian population settled on the river plains.

The river was known to be threatening to the lives of the many people who consume and use its water even before the report was compiled. The pollution is also a concern to the lives of over 140 fish species, about 90 amphibian species and the rare Ganga river dolphins. There was an initiation of cleaning up the river with the Ganga Action Plan. It didn’t culminate because of the deficient number of technical expertise and corruption, no good environmental planning, no support from religious authorities and due to religious beliefs and Indian traditions.With the high level of gall bladder cancer cases due to the river water Dr Sameer Kaul, a cancer consultant with Apollo Hospital in Delhi, remarks “High gall bladder cancer cases are understandable. The gall bladder is a digestive organ and if anything goes wrong with it, the causative is linked with food and water,” as reported by Deccan Chronicle.

As per the survey done in Bihar, UP and West Bengal by the NCRG it shows that in every 10,000 people reported 450 men and 1000 women suffer with gall bladder cancer. India also shows the highest number of prostate cancer cases. Kaul further explained “A high intake of animal protein is known to cause prostrate cancer. The people living in the river basin take large quantities of fish which are also infected by these polluting waters.”

“The Ganga water is now filled with arsenic, lead, cadium, fluoride and heavy metals,” said Dr Jaideep Biswas, director of the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata, this has drastically increased the number of cancer cases near the flood plains of Ganga.

These pollutants drop down to the river bed, which eventually contaminate the ground water used by the public for drinking and cooking. Because of these pollutants 25 people in every one lakh population suffer with different types of cancer like urinary bladder, kidneys, food pipe, liver and skin cancer.Rajender Singh, the ‘waterman of India’ has said that with the series of meeting held by the National Ganga River Basin Authority it has caught the attention of the prime minister towards the mounting pollution in Ganga. “It is for the centre to press on the state governments to ban pollutants from being discharged into the Ganga. Unfortunately, nothing is being done on the ground and the result is that our national river is getting more polluted,” as reported by Deccan Chronicle.
Dr Kaul also stated that by 2020, if the government doesn’t employ stringent measures to curtail the environmental pollution, cancer will be an epidemic in India.
Apart from the industrial wastes Ganga also gets contaminated by sewers, religious offerings packed in non-biodegradable plastic, the ashes and bones thrown in Ganga after cremation. The river is believed to wash away the sins but this amount of dirt and pollution is like pushing its limits beyond its possible capacity.

Bihar Human Rights Commission summons Saharsa DIG

The Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) on Tuesday summoned DIG, Saharsa range, and SP, Madhepura to appear personally before the commission on December 17 to explain the 'inordinate delay' in investigation of a case related to a girl's murder on April 17, 2004.

It has asked the two officers to inform the commission about action taken, if any, against the police officers responsible for the delay in investigation of the case.

Jaimala Devi, the mother of the deceased, Shivani, lodged an FIR against her relatives Shambhu Prasad, Shailendra Yadav and Ramesh Prasad Yadav of village Sahugarh, Diwani Tola, under Madhepura police station.

"Jaimala had complained about police inaction in the murder case. According to reports made available to the commission, the then SP, Madhepura, in 2004, had found true the allegations against the three accused named in the FIR. He had ordered the police station concerned for their immediate arrest. It is not clear why the above order by the SP was not executed till July, 2011, over seven years after the murder," BHRC member, Neelmani, said.

"According to the last report submitted to the commission by the DIG, Saharsa, vide his letter on July 7, 2012, Madhepura SP did not submit clarifications on certain points raised in the DIG's supervision despite reminders to him and, therefore, the DIG was not in a position to take decision in the case as yet," Neelmani's order read.

"The abnormal delay in taking the final decision in investigation of a murder case is pathetic and the commission is constrained to take a serious view of the matter," Neelmani said.

Copy of the order was faxed to DIG, Saharsa and SP, Madhepura, for compliance and to the IG, Darbhanga Zone, and the DGP for information.

Inquiry into incidents of fake admissions in schools

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday ordered an inquiry into incidents of fake admissions in schools for availing benefits such as free uniform, cycle, mid-day meal and scholarship.

Education department officials said that till date 336,000 fake admissions had come to light in less than a dozen districts.

The principal secretary in the education department, Anjani Kumar Singh, said the fake admissions were exposed following a special drive.

"It was shocking to find a student's name in more than one or two schools. Even attendance figure were less than the number of students in admission registers," he said.

Singh said that if a student took government doles from two schools, action would be taken against his or her parents.

The department has decided to withhold the salary of a dozen teachers in Sasaram.

"Admission of fake students has been cancelled and action initiated against teachers suspected to be involved in the racket," Omprash Singh, a district education official, said.

In Banka, around 70,000 fake admissions were reported, followed by about 57,000 in West Champaran, 53,000 in Sitamarhi, 50,000 in Rohtas, 34,000 in Katihar, 33,000 in Muzaffarpur, 32,000 in Jamui, 4,000 in Darbhanga and some 3,000 in Kaimur.

The government has cancelled all fake admissions in these districts.

In a bid to woo more students from poor families to schools, the government is giving out bicycles to those above Class 9.

Human Resource Development Minister P.K. Sahi says now cycles and uniforms will be given after six month attendance record.

Culture of Mithila

Maithili, an Eastern Indic language, is spoken in Mithila. Maithili has previously been considered a dialect of both Hindi and Bengali. Today Maithili, is recognized in the Eighth Schedule of Indian official languages. In southern districts of Mithila Angika is spoken.

The Mithila region is rich with culture and traditions, including the worship of the goddess of power, Durga. Every home of Mithila has its own god or goddess known as a kuldevta. The people generally live in larger families. The Hindu festivals are widely celebrated : Makar Sankranti (14 January), Basant Panchami, Saraswati Puja, Shivratri.Holi, Ram Navami, New Year(Mesha Sankranti on 14 April usually, Janaki Navami(Baishakh Shukla 9), Batsavitri, Madhushravani, Nagpanchami, Rakshabandhan,Krishna Janmashtami,Chauth Chandra, Durga Puja, Kojagara(Sharad Purnima), Diwali, Bhatridwitiya, Chhathi, Akshya Navami, Devotthan Ekadashi, Sama Chakeba,Kartik Purnima, Vivaha Panchami,etc. in which some are specific in Mithila such as Chauth Chandra when Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapad is celebrated rest of India, and Indra Puja in Ashwin Krishna Paksha and So Bhatridwitiya and Sama Chakeba in Kartik Shuklapaksha-are festivals for brothers and sisters apart from Rakhabandhan as in other parts of Indian subcontinent.
A Mundan ceremony in Mithila.

The Mundan ceremony is a very popular tradition in Mithila. A child's hair is shaved for the first time, accompanied by bhoj (a party) and (sometimes extravagant) celebrations.

The Maithili marriage traditions are important to the people and unique to the region. The custom includes four days of marriage ceremonies called: Barsait,Chautrthi, Madhushravni, Kojagara, and finally Dwiragman (the first homecoming of the bride). The marriage is traditionally fixed using complex genealogical tables, called Panji among Brahmins, Dev-Chaudhary “ Deo and Karna Kayasthas which are maintained by Panjikars, a special group of Brahmins who prevent marriages among relatives up to sixth degree in Matripaksha and seventh in Pitripakksha.

The name Mithila is also used to refer to a style of Hindu art, Madhubani art, created in the Mithila area. This art originated as ritual geometric and symbolic decorations on the walls and floors of a house, generally done by women before a marriage. The custom was not known to many outside the region. After paper was brought to the area, women began to sell their artwork and expand their subjects to popular and local Hindu deities as well as to the depiction of everyday events. Ganga Devi is perhaps the most famous Mithila artist; her work includes traditional ritual Mithila decorations, depictions of popular deities, scenes from the Ramayana, and events in her own life.

Folk stories are called grandmother stories in Mithila. The story of Gonu Jha is one popular tale.

A small film industry also exists. Of the many movies produced in Mailthili, "Sasta Jingi Mahag Senoor" and "Mamta Gabe Geet" are perhaps the best known.Off late " Sindurdan " also collected accolades. Among the documentary films that best presents the unparalleled cultural richness of Mithila are "The Cultural Heritage of Mithila" which showcases Pamaria, Pachania, Bhaant, Panaji-Prabandh, Sama-Chakeva, Salhes naach and Salhes gaatha gaayan, Kamla-Pooja etc. and "Mithila Paintings" which showcases the insights into the past, present and emerging forms of the Mithila paintings.

4,311 cases pending in SC/ST police stations in Bihar

Even as the Nitish Kumar government has laid thrust on justice for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, cases relating to atrocities on SC/ST are increasing and a good number of them are pending in police stations. "The cases are piling up because of the slow pace of their disposal,'' officials claim. According to official records available at the state police headquarters here, 4311 cases lodged under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 are still pending with different SC/ST police stations up to May this year. The then National SC/ST Commission chairman Buta Singh, during his visit to Bihar on April 6, 2010, had expressed serious concern over the growing number of cases of atrocities, noting that hardly two per cent of them reach logical conclusion. While the number of cases of atrocities and repression were reported to be 3,723 in 2008, it rose to 5,129 in 2009 but then declined to 3,551 in 2010. State Additional Director-General of Police (Crime Investigation Department) A S Nimbran said there are seven to eight such districts where 50 per cent of cases of atrocities are pending and these are normally the districts where very less number of cases are registered every year. Nimbran confided that there are 200 cases of atrocities and repression being registered in Bihar every month. There are 239, 196, 186, 180, 167, 141 and 121 cases pending in the districts of Muzaffarpur, Saran, Begusarai, Motihari, Gaya, Patna and Gopalganj districts, respectively, he said.