The post-independence governance of Bihar is considered
worse than pre independence even when it produced administrator like Dr Rajendra Prasad and Karpoori Thakur.Bihar did develop from
60’s to 90’s, but the rate was very pitiable when considered on the national
scale of development.Taking up the Bihar’s state in the recent past.
The
first time I had the experience of the unruliness prevailing in the state is
when I was told by Momma to get back home before sun sets in when I went to
play with my friends in park nearby. The reason being the lack of trust on the
administration for maintaining the law and order. Bihar in that time was
referred as the classic case of bad administration but rather it was the case
on total absence of administration. When I gained political alertness, the
ruling government the husband–wife duo of LaluPrasad Yadav & Rabri Devi had
been in power for last twelve years and their rule was infamous for rampant
corruption and communal riots. The famous one being the Fodder scam and Bhagalpurriots. The condition of law and order was pathetic. Organized crime like murder,
abduction and extortion developed as an industry. Moreover the police’s
inactivity added to the woes of the residents of the state. The use of muscle
power in elections was a common thing. All of this contributed to the infamous
image of Bihar which still prevails. And it is this during period in which Bihar saw mass migration of
its residents to other states. But in the state assembly elections of 2005, the
Election Commission of India appointed K.J Rao as the election supervisor of the state.For me, he was the bringer of
the changes there.Visting the polling booths on a scooter, deploying additional
Para military forces in sensitive areas, he solely insured a free and fair
elections. A Hung assembly denoted that the people of the state were eager to
get rid of the ruling government. President’s rule followed by fresh electionsbrought
a coalition government to power led by Nitish Kumar.
The major challenges before this government was to clip the
wings of the criminals of the state, curb corruption and resume the development
work which were stagnant for a very long time. It did take time, but things
began changing. The changes were primarily of two kind; one which can felt like
the fear of criminals terminated and rule of law was established and the other
which can be seen like coming up of new flyovers, roads and bridges. After kicking
off infrastructural development plans, the government shifted its attention on
corruption. Overhauling the vigilance department, setting up special courts for
speedy trials of detained corrupt official, government took up various
initiatives to curb corruption. After a first tenure, in 2010, this coalition
was voted back to power with a thumping majority as there was no such anti-incumbency factor for the
opposition to cash over.
The reason why I feel Bihar is changing is
because from 2006 till present date 74,000 court cases have disposed , the
no.of international and national tourists visiting the place have seen a sharp
rise. The state was the first to provide 33% reservation to woman in local
governments, to distribute cycles to school going girls in the state, to open
primary school in the seized house of an executive who was booked for
disappropriate assets. The manufacturing rate of Bihar has increased to 15% in 2011, it is setting up two big power
plants which are due to get operational by 2018.The literacy rate of women in the state has soared up from 33% to 53%. Legislation like Right to Service Act & Lokayukta Act has been enacted.The migration of people in the
last 5-6 years have remarkably gone down. The count of recent achievements may
go on and on. When Bihar was struggling to get back on its feet, it was pulled
down by a devastating Kosi flood in
North Bihar in 2008. But still a lot has to be done to revivify the glorious Bihar
which once used to be a home of intellects.
An auto rickshaw driver in
Delhi, a daily wage worker in Mumbai(and not an insurgent) and a shopkeeper in
Gujarat is still waiting for this something to be furnished so that he can come back
to his native state Bihar and earn his livelihood.I am pretty much sure that
in the coming time, Bihar would change and change for good as the road to
development of India goes through Bihar.
Doubt us for having the brains for doing this ?? If you do…let me remind you we are the one who gave India its first jackpot
prize winner of Kaun Banega Crorepati(Sushil Kumar, winner of KBC season 5 is from Bihar).Got it !!
