There is no gainsaying the fact that Bihar has changed, and is changing rapidly. Important thing is to know whether it is also changing and improving the quality of life of the people around. It would be a travesty of truth if we do not see the positive impact of these changes. Without doubt it has changed and improved the life of many people in Bihar and obviously such people are happy to gloat about these changes and improvements. But the gloat is not for all, not for the majority who have failed to reap the benefit of positive changes that Nitish has brought about. There is no doubting his sincerity. He is working tirelessly for a new brand called Bihar. It has become a progressive state. But there are problems which he refuses to see. Merely by enacting Right to Service Act, a government cannot expect to straighten out administrative ripples that are aplenty. Before embarking of laws and acts, he should have concentrated on a quality administrative infrastructure. That sadly is missing. If it were not so, the owners of a reputed shopping mall of Patna would not have been released almost immediately after they were arrested by the irresistible City SP Patna who is now doing a great job at Araria. We were given to understand by Nitish himself that gone were the days when a policeman would receive a call from higher ups to release someone arrested for some criminal acts. Those who were caught were caught for selling fake and spurious brands in their shop. This is a serious crime, but the government took it lightly. The seal of the shop was opened and it is once again allowed to do brisk business. And we are told Bihar has acquired the status of the least corrupt state. Seems corruption has acquired a new definition in Bihar.
One wonders how could one arrive at this conclusion without delving deep into the rot that has set in here. Babus still take money to do an official work. PDS still sells things in black market. Markets are full of spurious things including life saving drugs. Big babus are going on amassing wealth. Yes, there are demonstrative cases of some having been put behind bars or some whose properties have been confiscated. They have demonstrative effect. And most of the positive vibes that we see in the media and elsewhere are attributable to these demonstrative measures. Against one demonstrative case there are ten cases that are not demonstrated.
There is rampant corruption in all government schemes, without exception. Money meant for the needy merely trickles down to them. The major chunk is gormandized midway. One classic example of massive corruption is the scheme of tree plantation. Crores and crores of rupees are siphoned off in the name of planting of trees. You don't need any magnifying glass to see corruption in MNREGA. Those in power have raked in moolah, and they are thriving in this regime.
But Nitish Kumar has an advantage. He is generally perceived as a clean man himself. At least I do not see any thing contrary to that. His another major advantage is the non-availability of a viable alternative to which the people of Bihar might like to go to. Returning to the previous regime is completely ruled out. With all its shortcomings, it has to be said to the credit of this government that overall quality of life is certainly superior to the one we had witnessed under the previous regime. People can move around without much fear, though criminals are striking off and on. Environment has certainly improved. There is no in-built fear anywhere. But to say there is no corruption, no crime is wrong. Most of those who have favourably commented about Bihar have done so from the cosy precincts of luxury hotels without ever stepping out of Patna. Most of them had known about Bihar from media and had formed an opinion. They had not seen Bihar. So, when they visit Bihar for the first time and say Bihar has improved, they must take Biharis as naive to believe what they say. Which Bihar are they comparing this Bihar to? Nitish is capitalizing on this and yet he says he does not need any certificate from Kejriwal and others. The fact of the matter is he has been collecting certificates with both hands. Most of these certificates are issued by those who have vested interests, or by those who make a courtesy call on the ever doting CM. He accepts these certificates because they are positive certificates. Those issuing negatives certificates like the one issued by Kejriwal are snubbed by him. Same Nitish had relished the certificate issued by Anna not long. Many Biharis were unhappy that Anna issued a certificate. They were unhappy because they knew the reality on the ground.
Laloo too used to get some institutions/group of students from distant lands to speak about his business acumen and in fact many such descended on India to get a lecture or two on management from Laloo, the management guru. There is no dearth of people who believed Laloo sponsored them all. Money is not a problem with Laloo.While the same charge will, perhaps, not be brought against Nitish, there is a feeling that Nitish is seeking publicity without appearing to be so and is engaged in an image building exercise. All his yatras are a step in that direction. One would not grudge him that because he is seen as a man on mission. Nothing wrong with that. One only hoped he would also pay some attention to the real issue of corruption and not be led away by an engineered environment.
One wonders how could one arrive at this conclusion without delving deep into the rot that has set in here. Babus still take money to do an official work. PDS still sells things in black market. Markets are full of spurious things including life saving drugs. Big babus are going on amassing wealth. Yes, there are demonstrative cases of some having been put behind bars or some whose properties have been confiscated. They have demonstrative effect. And most of the positive vibes that we see in the media and elsewhere are attributable to these demonstrative measures. Against one demonstrative case there are ten cases that are not demonstrated.
There is rampant corruption in all government schemes, without exception. Money meant for the needy merely trickles down to them. The major chunk is gormandized midway. One classic example of massive corruption is the scheme of tree plantation. Crores and crores of rupees are siphoned off in the name of planting of trees. You don't need any magnifying glass to see corruption in MNREGA. Those in power have raked in moolah, and they are thriving in this regime.
But Nitish Kumar has an advantage. He is generally perceived as a clean man himself. At least I do not see any thing contrary to that. His another major advantage is the non-availability of a viable alternative to which the people of Bihar might like to go to. Returning to the previous regime is completely ruled out. With all its shortcomings, it has to be said to the credit of this government that overall quality of life is certainly superior to the one we had witnessed under the previous regime. People can move around without much fear, though criminals are striking off and on. Environment has certainly improved. There is no in-built fear anywhere. But to say there is no corruption, no crime is wrong. Most of those who have favourably commented about Bihar have done so from the cosy precincts of luxury hotels without ever stepping out of Patna. Most of them had known about Bihar from media and had formed an opinion. They had not seen Bihar. So, when they visit Bihar for the first time and say Bihar has improved, they must take Biharis as naive to believe what they say. Which Bihar are they comparing this Bihar to? Nitish is capitalizing on this and yet he says he does not need any certificate from Kejriwal and others. The fact of the matter is he has been collecting certificates with both hands. Most of these certificates are issued by those who have vested interests, or by those who make a courtesy call on the ever doting CM. He accepts these certificates because they are positive certificates. Those issuing negatives certificates like the one issued by Kejriwal are snubbed by him. Same Nitish had relished the certificate issued by Anna not long. Many Biharis were unhappy that Anna issued a certificate. They were unhappy because they knew the reality on the ground.
Laloo too used to get some institutions/group of students from distant lands to speak about his business acumen and in fact many such descended on India to get a lecture or two on management from Laloo, the management guru. There is no dearth of people who believed Laloo sponsored them all. Money is not a problem with Laloo.While the same charge will, perhaps, not be brought against Nitish, there is a feeling that Nitish is seeking publicity without appearing to be so and is engaged in an image building exercise. All his yatras are a step in that direction. One would not grudge him that because he is seen as a man on mission. Nothing wrong with that. One only hoped he would also pay some attention to the real issue of corruption and not be led away by an engineered environment.
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