Interview of Nitish Kumar

No doubt, ‘governance’ is the topmost priority in our agenda. We have initiated the process of administrative reforms. Powers were delegated at different levels. Some important powers of state government were delegated to local civil bodies. Necessary changes were made in the rule of business. Systematic governance has been established at every level. Now we regularly hold cabinet meetings for facilitating speedy decisions. And the whole system gets activated automatically. Coordination between bureaucracy and different public institutions has been established. A system of accountability and check and balance has been enforced at every level. Now we can say that system has generated enough trust among common citizens of this state. If any thing is left we have a “Janata Darbar” accessible to every one.

Despite all your good intention why bureaucracy is still not very responsive and participatory in their working style.

To make them responsive we have “Janata Darbar”. Similar initiatives have been taken even at the district level. So every one is accountable in the system. But my approach is different, we want to institutionalize a systematic reform. We are computerizing our system to keep a tab on all assurances and complaints from common people. Our initiative is well received at every level and it generated enough confidence among common people.
Let me tell you that our “Right to Information” initiative based on telephone known as ‘Jaankari’ has drawn “Global interest”. No other Indian state was ready to make “Right to Information” so accessible to common people. So naturally all these initiatives will make system accountable.

Law and order is an ongoing process. We tried our best to change the mind set of our police force. We have to make them responsive on a regular basis. See the results of our speedy trial. A sharp decline in the rate of crime is being noticed at every level. People started recognizing or honouring the rule of law.

I watched the video clips of interview. I also keep track of happenings in Bihar via Bihar Times and Jagran. Mr. Chief Minister is very correct in his claims about different changes that had been initiated at different levels. But I have seen so many politicians who go ga..ga about what they have done for the state and all, and I am still waiting for someone bold to come ahead and speak about the things that needs to be done in Bihar and not what government has achieved. Nitish Kumar sounded no different when it came to count his achievements.

But all said, it does appear that things are changing in Bihar and I also welcome the comments from Mr. Kumar couple of weeks back that he would not let the things change at the cost of Nandigram. I hope he stands by what he has said and does no take a U turn the way Left govt. did in West Bengal and BJP did in center after acquiring power riding on Swadeshi slogan and then selling the profit making PSUs to private parties for nothing but to widen the gap between poor and rich.

Pavan Kumar Sharma

sharma.pavankumar@gmail.com

Ray of hope
There is a ray of hope at end of every tunnel. When Sri Nitish Kumar joined as the CM of the state, I like many other had great hopes and expectation from this man of better integrity and accountability than his predecessors. Result in two years have not been that immense but definitely encouraging. Development in infrastructure in state capital is visible; there has been improvement in work culture in academic institutions and health services. I am extremely glad to see campus placement going on across many colleges. But situation is engineering, medical colleges, management institutes is still grim. The efforts put in by government do not by any means commensurate with the kind of zeal and commitment desired. We were at such bottom of development that anything would look good thereafter. There was only one way of movement and that was upwards.
What about investments in Bihar? Where are sugar companies? When we can expect cement companies to start their operation in Bihar? Where is super specialty hospital that was proposed? What is the status of proposed film city? Still has long way to go for the present and succeeding government.
Is government honestly willing to make atmosphere in Bihar conducive for Bihar sub-nationalism to flourish?

I want to build my career in Bihar. I want to stay there and put my efforts that would add to the development of the state. There are many like us. My generation has got descending Bihar from our previous generation. Please put serious efforts, else, I am afraid coming generation would find even decent survival in Bihar difficult.

First I would like to say congrats to Mr. Nitish kumar for 2yrs completion. Thanks for Bihar Times to bring all these in your news portal.
Bihar is changing, that is for sure and I think people there are recognizing it. But one thing that I am worrying about the role of national media.
Our national media is continuing to show only bad news from Bihar and tagging bihar as state where only bad things happen. They do not show even big positive news/events of Bihar.
People outiside bihar still carrying old picture of Bihar despite of recent changes. I think it is also blocking developments of Bihar.
Today we see big investments coming to Bangalore, why?, it is not because of only good governance but mainly because of brand 'Bangalore'. So, Making good brand is very important in these days and Media plays big role here. I am expecting Honorable CM Nitish Kumar must do something in this area. If we are able to make brand 'Bihar', then we would definitely see flow of investments in Bihar.