A letter to CM of Bihar

To,
Shri Nitish Kumar,
Chief Minister,
Government of Bihar,
India

Dear Nitishji,

I have my origins in Muzaffarpur, but because of financial problems my father migrated to Calcutta in 1970. I was brought up for a larger part of my childhood in Calcutta, but I am tied to Bihar as it is my heart and most of my blood relatives are here. Me, my father and almost all Biharis want to return but... [It somewhat depicts the NRIs who want to come but can't.]
I read the progress made by Bihar in the past few years of your rule. Law and order, industries as well education have seen huge boosts. The normal feeling of insecurity has also decreased. But the Law and Order is the most nagging problem, which is withholding the progress of Bihar.
The people of Bihar are most successful outside Bihar and their presence is felt in almost all spheres including Commerce, Engineering, Hi-tech Industries- Computer/Software as well as skilled/unskilled labours. They can be found in almost all the states of India as well as abroad. The educated Biharis have proved themselves best in the work they undertake, which proves that they have a inborn talent coupled with a desire to excel. They are considered to be one of the most hardworking people. I would like to give you some suggestions which I feel may be useful:-

A) Safe Society: “ A society cannot progress if it is living in fear”. First we need to ensure a safe society for the common man. I understand, this is not a day's task, but we need to work to make law and order a part of society, where one need not fear for their life and property. This will ensure people investing in state and tourism getting a huge boost. If Doctors and high earning people continue to be abducted for money, the migration and brain-drain will continue.

B) Green Revolution: As agriculture is the backbone of the agro-based economy of Bihar, we need to make it at par with the current status if not ahead. We may set up co-operative societies and committees which will not only distribute the financial aid to the farmers but also keep an eye on the use of the money to check corruption. Strict steps should be taken against corrupt machineries. Its difficult given the fact that more than 90% officials are corrupt, rest leave Bihar or world.

C) Tourism: Hong Kong is a place having a few tourist places which are not even half as good as their Indian counterparts but are still able to attract more tourists than India. The reason as per me is the insecurity and maintenance. In Rameshwaram the natives have engaged themselves in this industry to a good extent and are pursuing alternative earnhoods as well. Can we maintain our famous heritage sites of Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali, etc. with a good security and hospitable atmosphere? This will not only improve the economic figures of the state but also will send out a improving/positive image of the state.

D) Basic Education System- Illiteracy is the reason people do not differentiate between good and bad. In my village, there is a school where you can seldom find teachers in either middle or high school. The teacher may be paid more than Rs. 10000, which a private school teacher hardly gets. But you will find a teacher in the private school but in the government school. Once, some members of a family are educated and get dividends of it, more members of the same family follow the path and this leads to a more literate society. We don’t need to build IITs and IIMs, we need school with teachers, where a class-X or XII pass student is worth the certificate.

E) Basic Infrastructure- People don't want much to return you back to the power next time. They only want Bijli, Sadak and a few other basic services. If they don't have roads, even you can't travel them to them. Children cannot devote night times for study properly. My village is only 18 KMs from Muzaffarpur station and still doesn’t have electricity. Irony is that the Kanti Thermal Plant is only a few kilometres from my house.

F) Industrial Development - When I went to a railway reservation office in Chennai, I thought I have come to a private institution by mistake. But indeed, it was the railways office. We follow rules and contribute better in other states but why not our own state? We need an Industrial revolution for making the state self-sufficient and improve the standard of living of the people. We can start with small but popular industries like the electric fan, bulb making, paper crafts, etc. I am sure people will do more work for themselves than they are doing now for others.

G) Bring Back Biharis- Every Bihari in some corner of their heart wants to return. Ask an NRI if he/she wants to return to India, they will have a similar answer. But why aren't they................

I am not sure if you may not read these, but hope you understand the plight of Biharis and help us develop into an average state if not the best in India, as it used to be.

Yours Sincerely,
Rajeev Kumar Shahi
Current:
2C, Block-1, Site-2, Whampoa Gardens, HungHom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Permanent:
Vill+PO- Barkagaon Dist- Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India
AND
2/3/23, Saradamonipark, Bansdroni, Kolkata - 700070.