Bihar's islands of prosperity

Statesman News Service

PATNA, Nov 4. - For Bihar's big-time politicians, charity always
begins at home and does not go much farther. Mr Lalu Prasad's native
village of Phulwaria, his in-laws' hamlet of Selar Kalan and the
official residence of Mr Nitish Kumar reveal it. Phulwaria and Selar
Kalan are islands of prosperity in virtually penurious Gopalganj
District.
Phulwaria has a fenced-in helipad, a power sub-station, a police
station, a block-cum-anchal office, a registry office, a post office,
a 30-bed hospital named after Mr Prasad's mother, the late Marchhia
Devi, a water tower, a guest house, a computerised branch of the State
Bank of India, a water tank, a middle school and a 10+2 school. Its
roads are made of concrete.
At Selar Kalan, a huge Gokul Dwar named after Mrs Rabri Devi's
grandfather welcomes visitors, who then step forth on a cemented road.
Electricity is abundant and television sets are ubiquitous. The
government has so far spent around Rs 12 crore on doing up the
official residences of the chief minister, ministers and National
Democratic Alliance members. More than Rs 10 lakh is reported to have
been spent on renovating Mr Kumar's abode and the work continues, with
a gate being set into the north-east corner of the house in accordance
with vastushastra.
A south-east gate is being closed and the boundary wall, complete with
iron grilles, is being raised higher. About Rs 9.75 lakh was said to
have been spent on a waterproof pandal, carpets and chairs for the
chief minister to be able to meet the people. His secretariat now has
glazed tiles and computers. The state government is Rs 42,483 crore in
debt, though.