'We don't need SEZs right now. We need to focus on agriculture'
Posted online: Sunday, December 03, 2006 at 0057 hours IST

Financial Express, Dec.3, 2006
It is not that Nitish Kumar has merely survived his first year.
Things have begun to move in Bihar, at least the state has stopped
moving backwards. It is after 15 years that the chief minister's
office in Patna Secretariat has an occupant, and one who burns the
midnight oil at that.

For Nitish, 55, finishing one year in office is perhaps an achievement
in itself, given the inherent instability of the coalition that he
leads. Brought to power by a bunching of upper castes, sections of
middle and lower castes, Nitish is keen to expand his base,
particularly among Muslims, and project himself as a pan-Bihar leader.
Though there has been no dramatic turnaround in Bihar since he took
over, Nitish thinks development will come and become the buzzword,
uniting all castes and religions.
SHEKHAR GUPTA: Is there a paradigm shift in Bihar? Have people now
begun to say that they will vote on the basis of performance, rather
than caste?

Certainly. People's mindset is changing. Today, they talk of
development and refuse to be mobilised by caste-based politics. In the
last one year, we have focused on development of human resources —
education and health are two of its major components. We are working
towards skill development. Earlier, children from Bihar did not have
much facility for education and parents had to send them outside the
state.

During one of my visits to a rural area, I was touched when a
12-year-old kid asked me: "Hum padhenge nahin kya?" Our government
found that there was just one teacher for 200 to 300 students. We
worked out the requirement for teachers in relation to students on a
ration of 1:40, which, as we figured out, was 2,35,000. We have also
linked education with Gram Panchayats. All teacher recruitments are
being done through panchayats. We have also reserved 50% seats for
women in panchayats. This will bring about a great change in society.

About healthcare, let me tell you that there were hardly any doctors
in primary health centres. You will be surprised to learn that there
was no paper for doctors write prescription on. In July this year, we
launched a programme to distribute free medicine. We began with 13
medicines. Now, 108 medicines are being provided in district
hospitals.

Besides, health centres and district hospitals are being connected
with telephones. It helps in two ways: provides connectivity and helps
us monitor the functioning of hospitals and its doctors. It has worked
wonders. The health secretary told me that as against 39 patient
visits in a month, district hospitals today treat 3,000 in a month.

SHEKHAR GUPTA: How do you get the money to do all this?

Funds have always been there but was not properly utilised. In fact,
we are also using a part of the 12th Plan funds for development. The
Centre has allocated funds and we have managed our internal resources
as well. We also get Rs 1,000 crore every year under Rashtriya Sum
Vikas Yojna launched by the NDA government. Under this, 23 districts
in the state are receiving funds. The scheme has now been renamed by
the UPA. We have also launched Mukhyamantri Zila Vikas Yojna.

In addition to all this, we will save about Rs 200 crore this year. To
use allocated funds is a difficult task. Various agencies like the
Planning Commission and Union ministries are involved in these
projects. At my level, I have convened meetings for infrastructure
projects in the state. We've even approached the Union Transport
Minister TR Baalu. No one can say we are not alert.

ABHAY MISHRA: What have you done for the minorities in Bihar? Has
there been a case when you wanted to do something for them but
couldn't due to opposition from the BJP?

The BJP has never opposed any scheme meant for the minorities. We are
trying to improve their lot. The 15-years of Lalu-Rabri rule did not
do anything for them, only used them as vote banks. After taking over,
I have got loans waived for Muslims in Bhagalpur. Loans were
sanctioned to them during the Bhagalpur riots of 1989. Besides, there
was no electricity supply to power looms, run mostly by Muslims. I
asked the industry department to examine the financial liabilities.
New connections were given to these power looms with 20-hour supply
per day.

Moreover, there were 650 cases in Bhagalpur riots, many were closed.
The CID was asked to look into the matter and it found that there was
sufficient evidence in many of them. Twenty-nine cases have been
reinvestigated and a judicial inquiry commission been sep up. I have
also written the PM, seeking compensation for the Bhagalpur riots
victims in line with that given to anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

RAVISH TIWARI: You promised during the election that you would provide
suraaj (good governance) but it turned out to be bhuraj (a government
dominated by Bhumihars)?

This is not correct. You see the composition of my Cabinet and you
will find that all castes, communities are duly represented. There is
no discrimination against anyone.

VARGHESE K GEORGE: Do you see a new political alignment in Bihar?

Abhi to kuchh nahi dikh raha hai. But divisions within the UPA are
getting wider and wider, thanks to Laluji. He does not have respect
for anybody. Laluji was mistaken in believing that UPA's victory in
Bihar in the 2004 general election was due to his efforts.

He should have understood that Ramvilas Paswan had a major role, too.

VARGHESE K GEORGE: Lalu Prasad has said he is No.1 minister in the
Union Cabinet? You were the railways minister in the late '90s. How do
you rate Laluji now?

I resigned following the train accident in Gaisal (West Bengal) in
1999. The NDA government focused on safety measures. The railways
profits have gone up because freight rates have been increased. The
booming economy is also one of reasons for the increased profits.

VARGHESE K GEORGE: Roads in Bihar are one of reasons that stop
investors from going to the state?

We have enough funds for the roads but there is no agency to work. We
are inviting corporates and construction companies to come and work in
the state. I have also met Ratan Tata and the Mahindras. The Bihar
Bridge Construction Cooperation (BBCC) went into liquidation but we
want to revive it. We have recently launched the Mukhyamantri Sadak
Nirman Yojna and handed over the work to the BBCC.

MANINI CHATTERJEE: When the RJD was in power in Bihar, it used to
complain against the Centre. But you seem to have a very good equation
with the UPA government in Delhi. Do you foresee a realignment of
forces with the JD (U) coming closer to the Congress in the future?

I must tell you that we have no problems with the Centre. They are
quite supportive. Had they been so active in Bihar earlier, they
wouldn't have met such electoral misfortunes there.

It's just a few RJD ministers in Central government who keep creating
confusion. But I'm fine with that, too. For instance, Union rural
development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Yadav sent many letters to me
in quick succession and I asked him if he had also began to do
secretary's work.

ABHAY MISHRA: Have you sidelined former JD (U) president George
Fernandes because he has been critical of your government of late?

This is not correct, he is not sidelined. George saheb is our senior
leader and we have great respect for him and we take seriously any of
his remarks.

SEEMA CHISHTI: What's your party's stand on reservation for Dalit minorities?

We have made it clear in Parliament that Dalit minorities must be
included in SC category. In Bihar, Muslims are inducted in OBC
category. Category-wise too, OBCs are divided into Annexure I and
Annexure II. Annexure I stands for extremely backward classes.
Alliances are tactical and programme-based. The BJP and our party may
have formed alliances but we have different views on Muslim
reservations.

CITHARA PAUL: Do you still nurture the socialist dream?

Yes. We want to provide basic facilities to our people. For example,
kerosene is a necessity for people in our state but, most often, it
gets black-marketed. Now coupon will be issued to them and the dealers
will get kerosene against the coupons. We want our work to percolate
to the villages through local self-government bodies. We are even
constructing primary school with separate kitchens so that teachers
are disassociated from the work of mid-day meal. It will help teachers
concentrate on teaching only. You asked about my dream. Well, my
government has allocated grants to schools to take children out on
picnics. They must visit historical and important places.

ABHAY MISHRA: The education system in Bihar is in a mess. Is it not
wasteful that a three-year degree course is completed in five years in
most universities?

We are concerned about the problem. I have talked to the officials.
Now teachers get salaries in time. Sufficient grants have been
allocated to science laboratories in schools and colleges. We are
working on streamlining sessions in universities.

SHEKHAR GUPTA: How much progress has been made in NHAI's projects?

GT road that goes through Sasaram is almost built. We've also put
those who were trying to extract hafta/rangdari tax from builders
behind bars. No one is protecting the construction mafia in Bihar now.

SHILPA VENKATRAMAN: What about the kidnap insurance in Bihar that is
being talked about? Have the number of kidnappings come down?

Yes. There has been a drop in cases of kidnappings. Kidnappers are not
only being nabbed but also convicted. Trials are faster but to say
that incidents of crime won't take place is a misplaced notion. The
important thing is to see how quickly the police respond. Our
government and police are quite alert and taking prompt action. There
is no fear in the minds of people in Bihar now. Earlier, investors
used to ask about the law and order situation in Bihar. They are no
longer worried about it.

SHEKHAR GUPTA: When will Bihar get its first SEZ?

We do not need it right now. We need to focus on agriculture. There
was time when 25% of sugarcane was grown in Bihar. We have fertile
land, enough water for irrigation and high-yielding crops. We have
four proposals for setting up sugarcane factories. We are evolving a
land policy where farmers who are losing land do not get a raw deal.

PAMELA PHILIPOSE: What about the delay in decision on most court cases?

Bihar will be the country's No. 1 state in speedy disposal of cases.
We held a workshop on speedy trial of cases. Give us two years and
we'll bring down the rate of murders in the state. Earlier, trials
were pending because family members of the victim wouldn't agree to
give evidence. Now, they are coming forth to reopen cases. The system
should function in such a way that even if the chief minister wants to
protect someone, he cannot.

ILA PATNAIK: What's your stand on reservation for women?

We have already reserved 50% seats for women in local self-government
bodies. We wanted to use their skills in health and energy sectors
too. Women can succeed where men fail.

ILA PATNAIK: You have given 50% reservation for women. But still a
large section of women are uneducated and are thus unaware of their
rights and duties.

This is also true of men. All men are not educated either. We are
working on it. Soon, we will have the positive results.

VARGHESE K GEROGE: You seem to be comfortable working with bureaucrats
who have served during Lalu-Rabri rule. How?

Yes, I am. So long as they continue to do their duties properly, I
have no problem with them.

TEENA THACKER: A large number of children from Bihar are working in
Delhi as child labourers. What, if anything, is your government doing
for them?

It is a major problem. We have issued instructions to our
child-welfare departments to take necessary steps for their
rehabilitation. But the Centre needs to work out a practical policy.
We have asked the police and Railways authorities to rescue these
children. All departments have been asked to coordinate on this.
Still, it continues to be a matter of concern. Families have to be
convinced to send these children to school.