News Analysis India

Tag: Bihar government

  • INTERVIEW | Education top priority for Bihar govt, says Dr Ashok Kumar Chaudhary

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Bihar is on the right track to become empowered all spheres of development under the NDA government headed by a visionary like Nitish Kumar, said state education minister Dr Ashok Kumar Chaudhary.

    Chaudhary, who holds the additional charges of the ministry of social welfare, building construction, science and technology and minority affairs, is one of the well educated and closest allies of CM Nitish. In an interview with TNIE, he claimed that education is among the top priorities of the government. Excerpts:

    What is Bihar’s plans for education amidst the push to become a developed state?

    Education for the present state government is not a mere ministerial responsibility but an empowerment mission. Therefore, we are spending 20% of the state’s total budget on education  — which is higher than normal spending on the field. Besides this, the state government is working to fill the vacancies from primary schools onwards.

    If we speak about school education, the state government has revamped the entire infrastructure. Almost all facilities are being made available for promoting education and encourage children from all marginalised sections of society to attend classes. The books, uniforms and cycle schemes are important parts of an initiative to make Bihar excel in education.

    The most remarkable thing is that the education of girls has have got adequate momentum with the implementation of cycle and poshak (uniform) schemes. Simply put, Bihar is excelling in educational empowerment. One day, the state will have not only the highest literacy rate but also the most educational institutions.

    With the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, education was hit from school to university levels. What measures are being taken to bring things back under control?

    Bihar government under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar have brought the covid-19 under control and have resumed classes ensuring proper adherence to safety protocols. After the senior classes in schools, now classes for the students of Class 6 to 8 are starting from February 8. Classes in colleges and universities are happening with 50% attendance and examinations are being conducted. The officials of education department led by principal secretary of education Sanjay Kumar, are working round the clock to take education way ahead. And we will resume the full-fledged working of the educational sector in the next few months.

    It is learnt that the school dropout rate among children has increased in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic. How are you going to deal with it?

    Yes, more than 20 lakh cases of school dropout have been estimated till date amid the corona crisis. The education department will soon launch a drive to bring all those children back to schools.

    We had started online classes during the peak times of pandemic for school children in addition to classes conducted through programmes on Doordarshan and radio. In order to enhance speaking skills in English as well other languages, we have started educational schemes in association with the Kaushal Vikas mission. We are committed to exploring talents through proper educations. Let me tell you that vacancies to  2,451 posts in polytechnic institutes and engineering colleges are also being filled in order to promote science and technology-based education. 

    What all have your government been doing for women empowerment and environment protection?

    For boosting women empowerment in education, the state government has doubled the financial assistance to unmarried girls on passing intermediate from Rs 25,000 and Rs 50000  for both married and unmarried girls on completing graduation. The daughters of Bihar will be able to step up their higher education plans and ensure their participation in the progress of the state.

    Bihar has got the highest number of women cops in the country and it shows how our government is concerned with the “Nari Shakti” in every sphere. According to the India Justice Report 2020,one in 4 cops in Bihar is a woman- which is the highest across all states.

    As far as, works for environmental protection are concerned, the Jal-Jivan Hariyali started by CM Nitish Kumar is globally acclaimed now and has started redressing out many problems including safe drinking water along with enhancing greenery. The water bodies have been renovated to save water besides setting a record of having planted crores of trees.

    Any plans to upgrade the state’s e-education?

    Yes, we have started an initiative to strengthen the “E-education” under the pilot project through the “StepApp Tab” in two girls schools in Patna. Our government is striving to strengthen education through technical means. Besides this, the department of education and the ‘Centre for Health Policy” have signed also MoU to provide support in health and gender-related activities, strengthening financial accountability for need-based research.

    We are also working to develop the language skills and numerical knowledge of the children.

  • Shahnawaz Hussain, Kushwaha set to enter Nitish Kumar’s team in Bihar

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Senior BJP leader and recently elected unopposed to the Bihar legislative council Shahnawaz Hussain is expected to be inducted in the Nitish Kumar-led NDA ministry’s expansion due in the next few days.

    Hussain is likely to get either Home or Finance ministry. Nitish Kumar has held these posts since 2005. The BJP has staked its claim on the ministries and a disagreement with the JD-U over it was stated to be the cause behind the delay in the cabinet expansion.

    The Home department is considered the second most important wing because of its vast administrative powers, including those involving bureaucratic reshuffles.

    Sources said the BJP is learnt to have finalised a list of its prospective candidates. The Cabinet expansion is slated to be on the basis of equal number of ministerial berths between the alliance partners.

    However, JD-U sources say the ‘Luv-Kush’ equation could be followed by JD-U, which strongly indicates the return of Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP. JD-U’s senior leaders are in talks with Kushwaha for an alliance or his party’s merger with the JD-U.

    Speculation over Kushwaha intensified on Wednesday when former JD-U state chief Bashistha Narayan Singh told the media that talks were on over RLSP’s merger. However, RLSP termed it as a rumour.

  • Bihar’s motivating journey from power-starved to energy sufficient state

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Bihar has travelled a long way from once being an ‘electricity-starved’ state. It is now the first Indian state to have installed 1 lakh Smart Prepaid meters.

    The per capital consumption of electricity in Bihar from 145 units in 2012-13 has now increased three times to more than 400 units under the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government. Works completed in power distribution, modernisation and checking power pilferage through constant efforts by department officials have made the state power-sufficient and the number of consumers reaching a record of 1.62 crores.

    According to CMD-cum-Secretary of energy department Sanjeev Hans, the consumption of electricity has doubled in the last seven years enabling the department to start installation of Smart Prepaid meters on a wider scale. Under the Nitish Kumar government, power minister Bijindera Yadav and his officials have continuously worked for making the state having ample power availability and uninterrupted distribution.

    “The target is to install more than 23.4 lakhs Smart Prepaid meters in the state buoyed over the rapid strides made in power by the state”, Hans said. As per official data, Bihar had only 55 lakhs consumers till 2018 but now, the number of consumers is around 1.62 crore. Among total consumers, the ratio of domestic consumers is highest around 80% with no more difference registered in consumption of power even during COVID-19 induced lockdown times. Till 2005, the power consumption in the state was 700 megawatt, which gradually increased to 1712 till 2012, 4535 to 2017-18, 5932 mega watt to 2020-21.

    The state government is purchasing 1900 megawatt power to ensure uninterrupted power to the state. Patna consumes highest around 700 megawatts of power followed by other cities. Hans said that works are being done on many power and sub-power grids besides replacing old wires and burnt transformers.

  • Bihar to soon have gas insulated power sub-station

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Bihar has started working on setting up a gas insulated power sub-station, with high safety features, in the state.

    A couple of days ago, secretary of Bihar energy department Sanjiv Hans went to Naubatpur in Patna and reviewed the work for the Naubatpur 400/220/132/33KV Gas Insulated Sub Station. 

    The gas insulated power sub-station happens to be an upgraded technology which requires less maintenance.

    Hans said that this gas insulated power sub-station is due for completion by June 2021.

    “It will augment and stabilise power supply in and around areas of Patna. Apart from the state capital, Ara will also be one of the beneficiary of this gas insulated power sub-station”, Hans claimed.

    In addition to this project, a power grid is also being set up in Katihar from which the international transmission of power can be done to Bangladesh and Bhutan also.

    With the completion of Katihar based power grid by 2022, Bihar will be the first state in the country to have international power transmission power connectivity with Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

  • ‘JP to BJP’: A book that speaks about Bihar’s changing politics

    Express News Service
    PATNA: The recent Bihar assembly elections were more meaningful than ever for the all parties in the state, including the NDA and the opposition.  

    A book titled JP to BJP- Bihar after Lalu and Nitish by Patna based senior journalist Santosh Singh has brought in a bunch of ‘less known’ political facts to the readers.

    Singh, based in Patna, in a chapter of the book ‘The Churn-Bihar after Lalu and Nitish’ states that “The NDA had to also face the migration blues, and a not-so-great development index, beyond the basic ‘bijali, sadak and paani in the last three terms of Nitish Kumar as the Bihar CM”.

    The book, written with lucid facts, has proved to be an instant hit in the political as well as academic circles of the state. But what lures the readers to buy this book is its objective narration depicting political profiles and personalities of Bihar. The book also talks about the young political figures, namely Chirag Paswan, Kanhaiya Kumar and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

    Singh has stated that BJP has a compulsion to remain in political alliance with the JD-U but in the near future, BJP may dare to go alone with determination to have full political independence in Bihar.

    As mentioned in the book, “For the BJP, alliance with Nitish may well be political compulsion. Bihar BJP is not daring enough. But it (BJP) wants to dare and has been waiting just for the right time”.

    That means, BJP will never give second thought to take jump in the state independently.

    The book elucidates well that Bihar politics is at the far end of the era of Jayaprakash Narayan’s scions, with Nitish Kumar as the last holding the stand of politics from the socialist camp.

    “He (Nitish Kumar) looks good for a few more years, but the politics in the state in another ten years may have an altogether different templates and political proper nouns. Politics in Bihar is now entering an era that will make it bipolar. It is Saffron versus Socialists”, the book predicts.

    The book broadly claims “Bihar has crossed over the Nitish Kumar phase. Nitish might decorate the chair but he may not hold on to it for a long time”.

    It is a fact that no body honestly can deny that BJP has no leader parallel to Nitish Kumar to project as face to Chief Minister of the party in case it disassociates from the alliance. The BJP has majority of its leaders as well ministers, who feel privileged remaining ‘inaccessible’ to the both media and the common people.

    The same situation, directly or indirectly, goes with JD-U with a majority of its ministers including national president RCP Singh and CM Nitish Kumar, who remain ‘inaccessible’ to the media and the people in general with a few exceptions.

    But what JDU has an edge over the BJP is Nitish Kumar’s face-which carries a credit of ,indeed, transferring the Bihar from ‘backward’ to now somewhat ‘cleaned’ and ‘moving’ in development as a state  as the leader heading the state since 2005 with the political alliance wit BJP.

    Singh’s book reads “There can be three possibilities, BJP taking the centre–state with its aggressive brand of politics, Tejashwi cobbling a strong anti-BJP alliance, with the Congress and the left. Someone like Kanhaiya Kumar can become the fulcrum of a non-RJD and non-BJP alliance with the support of the Congress”.

    The book also says that caste politics has slowly started losing importance in Bihar. But it can not be easily agreed upon as having seen the recent caste equations mainlined by all parties in ticket distributions to ministerial formations by NDA.

    But, it has rightly been stated that, “Bihar is fast heading towards a BJP versus the rest of the political dispensation contest’. The book also says that Tejashwi, with his reserve of 20-22 per cent base, alone has a chance to give some resistance to the BJP, after Nitish Kumar is out of the race”.

    By going through the books, it goes without saying that the book by a journalist on Bihar politics will certainly prove handy in giving ‘intelligent insight’ on the state politics.

    Another senior journalist, Raj Kamal Jha, has said “To understand the India story today, any journey to and through Bihar is vital-it is both a pilgrimage and a reality check. This book is an invaluable compass for that journey”.

    Indeed, this is the book that speaks about ‘Bihar’s politics’ from past to future as an unputable down one.

  • JD-U blames BJP for delay in Bihar cabinet expansion as seat sharing formula still ‘unclear’

    Express News Service
    PATNA: The ruling JD-U held a grudge against BJP for continued delay over the issue of Bihar cabinet expansion.

    Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, not long ago, had expressed his dismay over inordinate delay in the cabinet expansion saying that it is was the first time such a long delay is being carried out in NDA history.

    JDU MLC Devesh Chandra Thakur, on Thursday, directly blamed the BJP for delay in the state  cabinet expansion. The three-time MLC said “as a result of the delay in cabinet expansion, the functioning of many government departments is getting affected.” 

    ​ALSO READ | Shahnawaz Hussain, Mukesh Sahni elected unopposed to Bihar legislative council

    He further reminded that cabinet expansion used to place just three days after a new government is formed.

    Almost two months have gone by since Nitish Kumar-led NDA government was elected in Bihar, but the cabinet has not been expanded despite heavy work pressure on 14 ministers. Thakur said that the delay in the cabinet expansion is sending a wrong message to people of Bihar.

    A speculation floated that the cabinet expansion will be held after January 26 as BJP leader Shahanwaz Hussian and VIP leader Mukesh Sahni were elected unopposed to the state council as MLCs.

    Sources close to both the JD-U and BJP said that “the Bihar unit of BJP has already sent a list of MLAs and MLCs for their inclusion in the cabinet to the central leadership of BJP in New Delhi.”

    A reliable source told The New Indian Express that the cabinet expansion is getting delayed because JD-U is not agreeing to the seat sharing formula proposed by BJP.

    Meanwhile, BJP leader Mithilesh Tiwari told the media that cabinet expansion is the chief minster’s prerogative. “The expansion of the cabinet will be held at an auspicious time and the NDA government will run smoothly to complete its full term,” Tiwari said. 

    He rebuked at the opposition for creating uproar over the cabinet expansion.

    Both JD-U and BJP are mulling over whether to include young faces in the cabinet instead of the old faces or those who were the ministers earlier.

    Bihar Deputy CM Tarkishor Prasad also claimed that the cabinet expansion will take place at the earliest. But when asked when, he refused to make any direct comments.

    ALSO READ | Bihar cabinet expansion likely soon, assures CM Nitish Kumar

    Some officials of the state government, posted at the secretariat, admitted that the functioning of the government has been affected due to delay in the cabinet expansion.

    “At present 14 ministers, against sanctioned 44 departments, are bearing heavy work load of multiple departments. The date of the budget session has also been announced. In such a situation, if cabinet is not expanded it will certainly create a major problem,” some senior officers said.

    Among 14 ministers, seven are from the BJP, five from JDU and one from each Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) and the VIP parties.

    As per sanctioned norm, only 36 ministers, including the Chief Minister, can be in the cabinet out of a total 243 seats. After the 2020 electionss, the NDA has got only 125 seats, out of which BJP has got 74 seats, JD-U has 43, HAM and the VIP each has got four seats.

    It is said that the BJP is demanding more ministerial berths on the basis of seats won this time. 

    Last time, the total number of JD-U MLAs was 71 while BJP had 54. But this time BJP has 74 MLAs and JDU has 43, so the BJP is reportedly claiming for more ministerial berths in the cabinet but the JD-U wants ministerial posts on the basis of 50-50 formula.

  • After being declared ‘open defecation free’ city, Patna now aims for ‘garbage free’ status

    Express News Service
    PATNA: After years of efforts, Patna is now decalred ‘Open Defecation Free’ (ODF). With this distinction achieved, the Patna Municipal Corporation has taken up another task — to make the capital ‘Garbage free.’

    “Being declared ODF is a great achievement for Patna. The Government of India has given ODF certificate declaring Patna Municipal Corporation area as “ODF Plus” with effect from December 2020,” a senior officer said.

    To achieve ‘garbage free’ city status. Patna administrator Himanshu Sharma has held many rounds of meetings with other officials of the corporations and discussed strategies on how to achieve this. 

    It is believed that if efforts continue, Patna will at least get the “3 Star City” certificate after proper waste management and garbage disposal efforts.

    According to the criteria set for Swachh Survekshan 2021, ODF Plus cities get 300 marks and “3- Star” cities are given additional 600 marks. 

    Under the Swachh Survekshan 2021, a total of 1,800 points are prescribed in various categories for certification. It is known that under Swachh Survekshan 2021, it is mandatory for cities to apply for star rating by 28 January.

    Spokesperson of Patna Municipal Corporation, Harshita, told The New Indian Express that efforts are being taken to make Patna ‘Garbage Free City’ by this year.

    “Under the garbage free certification, cities are awarded either 1-STARor 3-star or 5 star or 7 –star depending upon the cleanliness and works quantum. The PMC is working to claim for 3-star status as it fulfils all the mandatory provisions laid for the Garbage Free City”, Harshita said.

    Meanwhile, she said that the Patna Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Sharma has made an appeal to the citizens to avoid dumping garbage in improper places.

    In Patna, there are 200 modular toilets and more than 80 public and community toilets. Nearly 500 people carry out the sanitation work across the city.

    She said that adequate number of toilet facilities have been provided by the Patna Municipal Corporation, other government agencies and commercial establishments throughout the city. 

    “One can get information about the nearest toilet easily through the Google toilet locator”, she claimed.

    She said that both manual and mechanised sweeping are daily carried out across the city in addition to road washing exercises.

  • Tejashwi slams Bihar’s law and order situation under CM Nitish Kumar, says goons ‘running the govt’

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Lashing out at the NDA government over an unprecedented rise in crimes in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav slammed the deteriorating law and order system in the state and dubbed Nitish Kumar as the ‘selected and nominated Chief Minister of BJP’ on Wednesday.

    “Bihar has gone into the wrong hands. Goons have a field day and ruling the roots while CM Nitish Kumar wastes his entire energy in editing and hushing up the news of the crime in the media,” Yadav said.

    Interacting with media persons a day after the murder of Patna–based station head of Indigo airlines, Rupesh K Singh, Yadav said that Singh was killed merely two kilometers away from the CM’s residence.

    “Murder, robbery, extortion, rape, and corruption cases have gone out of control but CM Nitish Kumar does not even like to speak to the kin of the victims. Where is PM Narendra Modi now? Why doesn’t he reply as to who is the ‘Maharaja of Mahajangalraj’? Now, only goons are running the government,” he said.

    Yadav also added that Kumar was made the CM “under pressure” and asked him to step away from the Home Department if he cannot manage it effectively.

    He also mocked Nitish Kumar by stating that no district in the state was bereft of crimes and that the situation would differ drastically if the government took requisite actions to curb it.

    Meanwhile, no breakthrough was achieved a day after the killing of the Indigo airlines employee, although ADG (HQ) Jitendra Kumar told the media a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to crack the case.

    CM Nitish Kumar also expressed his condolences and assured of speedy arrest and trial of the accused.

    “Not a single case of crime can be tolerated and police must deal the criminals with strong hands,” Kumar said.

    According to official figures, over 17,000 persons were killed between 2015 to 2020 while more than 7,000 rape cases have been lodged during the same period in the state.

    ALSO WATCH | Bihar Elections Explained: Why Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD got maximum votes but not the CM-seat

    As per another official figure, 252 people were kidnapped for ransom in the last five years while 27 cases of bank robbery were registered as well.