Innovation - Aakriti Verma from Bihar built Floating House to save Flood Victims.

A new college of fisheries is likely to be set up in north Bihar soon.

 CM Nitish Kumar on Friday directed the officials of animal and fisheries resources department to identify a suitable site somewhere in north Bihar for setting up the college. This college would be affiliated with the proposed university of animal resources, Bihar.

 This issue came up at a high-level review meeting of the department chaired by the CM. Nitish asked the department officials to prepare a draft ordinance for the university.

Speaking at the meeting, the CM said that the vacant posts of veterinary doctors would soon be filled up. The officials were asked to initiate the process of their appointments soon.

Later, talking to reporters here on Friday, secretary, department of animal and fisheries resources, Santosh Kumar Mall said the CM has also directed the officials to expand the market for products sold under the Comfed's Sudha brand in semi-urban and rural areas. Various Sudha products would now be available in rural markets and villages, he said.

The CM also stressed the need for setting up women milk cooperatives. Mall said the CM has also directed the department to explore the possibility for setting up a dairy project in Munger. He also said that milk and other Sudha products should be made available to 'kanwariyas' by setting up small stalls on the trekking route from Sultanganj to Deoghar.










source : TNN

Bihar has been credited with impressing and attracting many poor and underdeveloped countries through its turn around story and impressive growth rate and many nations in Asia and Africa hope to take a lesson from the state's successful experiment with development.

 

Chairing a session on innovations in government at the Bihar Growth Conference organized by International Growth Centre (IGC) and ADRI on Sunday, the second and concluding day of the conference, IGC deputy executive director Adnan Qadir Khan said, "Bihar gives hope to those who are in the business of development and who want change. Bihar is the place which gave a big message of the politics of development and many countries in Asia and Africa have realized if Bihar can do this why can't they." He particularly referred to Pakistan and Sierra Leone in Africa which are highly impressed with the Bihar model of development.

Khan, who belongs to Pakistan, stressed on how to make effective public system and asserted that public sector has to be strengthened to check economic slide. "India's growth will be retarded if public sector is not strengthened," he said.

Some bureaucrats told the gathering about the government's innovative measures and said it ensured good governance and formation of policies for the public welfare. Building construction department secretary Chanchal Kumar, who earlier served as special secretary to the CM for many years, referred to the Right to Services Act, Bihar Special Courts Act and Jankari call centre under RTI, to name a few.

"These innovative ideas helped break the monopoly of bureaucracy, which was being seen as unaccountable. These measures brought greater discipline and work culture, apart from providing much succour to the common people," said Kumar.

Road construction department secretary and MD of Bihar State Road Construction Corporation Pratyaya Amrit, who shot into fame for his work in the revival of Bihar State Pul Nirman Nigam, threw light on the metamorphosis of the Nigam which was under liquidation. He gave credit to the state government which, he said, meant business. For the first time in the country, the mobile inspector software was used to monitor the construction of hundreds of bridges across the state.

Amrit said it was because of the innovative ideas that the turnover of the Nigam rose from Rs 43 crore in 2006 to Rs 1,200 crore in 2012. Similarly, in road sector, the construction of roads rose from 380km in 2004-05 to 3,500km a year now.

Highlighting how the government grappled with challenges in improvising the primary education scenario in the state, principal secretary, education, Amarjeet Sinha said, "Some 8,000 to 9,000 schools in the state don't have a building or space and this is a big challenge for the government." Sinha said the government has been trying to attract children from Mahadalit and minority community to schools.

 Bihar Health Society secretary Sanjay Kumar said more innovations was not what the government needed for now as there might be problems in coordinating and training the junior staff in the hierarchy. Referring to the Jawahar Rojgar Yojana, he said there have been changes brought almost every year in it since the programme started, causing much practical difficulty to the staff.

Later, Rajesh Chakrabarti of the Indian School of Business lauded the efforts of Bihar government headed by Nitish Kumar and presented through PowerPoint presentation how innovative ideas have changed the situation in law and order, health and infrastructure to effect a turnaround in the state through.

source :TNN

Bihar Growth Week conference-Bihar Growth honestly Very Empressive.

 

International Growth Centre director Robin Burgess was in Patna last weekend to attend Bihar Growth Week conference. Anisha Anand caught up with the professor at London School of Economics to talk about Bihar's growth. Excerpts:

At the inaugural session of the Bihar Growth Conference in Patna on July 20, you said you found Bihar's growth impressive. Stats apart, what changes have you seen?

 If I contrast the state with what it was during my visit in the year 1995, I notice a sea change in terms of infrastructure and crime rate. People now move around in the evening without worrying about their security. No doubt, Biharis are the best brains and some of the best doctors practicing across the world are Biharis. The only problem is, those best brains are spread across the globe and not inside thestate.  

                          

What do you feel is the best move made by Nitish Kumar as the CM to prove he is a worthy leader of the state?

His best strategy was to post the best, most talented and hardworking IAS officers on key positions of bureaucracy and give them adequate powers. This is how an ideal democracy ought to work, where ministers give the ideas and civil servants execute them. The period prior to Nitish coming to power was the period when Bihar was called a failed state. A failed state is a state which does not serve its citizens. With Nitish at the helm, however, people started believing this man would give them development. I don't think any other poor state like Odisha or Madhya Pradesh has put so much emphasis on public welfare. 

   

A lot has been said of late about Bihar's model of growth. Do you feel the Bihar model should be emulated for the betterment of other states as well?  

With a set of strong leaders and bureaucrats at the helm, people were delivered many things - like teachers, new institutions and welfare schemes such as the bicycle scheme. Also, caste-based politics gave way to development politics, thanks to your CM's focus on development agenda. Yes, such a development policy may prove fruitful for other states in the country.

Our CM has also put emphasis on quality education and a number of good educational institutions have come up in Bihar recent years. Yet, migration of students to other states is on. What could be the reason?

Frankly speaking, if I were asked to give a subtitle to Bihar, I would call it 'Educational State'. For, the thirst the people here have for education is not seen anywhere else. Even poor parents are conscious enough to provide good education to their children, but the only problem is that they send their children outside the state for studies because they feel there are better employment opportunities outside the state. Bihar lacks industries - pharmaceuticals, software and biotechnology, and, as such, students feel a seat in IIT-Kanpur or IIT-Kharagpur is better than that in IIT-Patna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

source :Anisha Anand, TNN

"Don't live life on auto pilot" I CHANGED MY ATTITUDE, MY DESTINY, & MY LIFE STYLE .

I believe in a fresh start every morning. Every day is new and brings multiple opportunities. I greet every morning with pleasure and hope. A new day is like a gift you should unwrap with happiness and offer gratitude.
Start your day simply and you will lead a satisfying life. Don't complicate anything. Ask yourself, 'How can I make things simple for myself and others?' Over the years, I've discovered this is the secret to living a content life. I don't wake up with any weight of yesterday on my shoulders. The body and mind should feel light in the morning. That will happen after a good night's sleep and a clean heart. Life is about making choices. I make simple choices. I wake up everyday at 4.15 am, went to morning walk and Exercise -purifies my mind and soul.
I've learnt not to focus on the hurt, betrayals and jealousies. I choose to focus on people's innocence and simplicity. I believe in staying above the drama and making each day more harmonious. The first sip of tea brings a new wave of positivity.  How we start our day can shape our destiny and life. Don't be a slave of routine. And don't live life in auto pilot. Enjoy the silence or FB Or Internate.  I meditate with prayanam This time is to do nothing. When you start your day in silence, the little noises fade away. Breathe. Visualise three moments from yesterday. Visualise three moments from today. Visualize three moments from tomorrow. Open the windows of your bedroom and soul, let in fresh energy.

This will invite new ideas and thoughts. It's very important to bring in fresh thoughts. De clutter. Throw away the objects and things you haven't used in a long while. When you remove objects that have served its purpose, you change the energy of your environment. Make breakfast for someone. Everyday, you write a powerful goal, it's a to-do list.. Think and be creative of ways to add that joy — feed birds, water plants, cook. Watch the sunrise. Stop to take in life before this human life is over. I read a fiction book : 'Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year'. And I follow it!                          

Amitava Kumar's latest book, 'A Matter of Rats: A Short Biography of Patna', was released at the A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies ( ANSISS) by its director D M Diwakar,

The book, which caused great excitement among Patnaites, even on social networking websites,  "deals with  three kinds of Patna," said Amitava. He illustrated the first kind of city made up of those who were born and attained adulthood and moved elsewhere for livelihood. The second Patna is of those who could not leave the place for some reason or the other, he said, and referred about Anand Kumar and his 'Super-30' to illustrate the second type. The third Patna is the one which comprises the marginalized folk who come to Patna in search of livelihood, "for whom the place is a matter of life and death, for instance students and political activists," he said, quoting from his book. This third Patna doesn't make Patna great but presents a sorry state of the city.

Filled with references of Super-30, the first mall of the city, lectures of professors at the dilapidated structure of Darbhanga House, resilience of rats of both New York and India and their innovativeness, the book present a panoramic view of not only the city's past but also of its presence through the metaphor of rats.

Professor Muniba Sami of department of English, Patna University, who was in conversation with Amitava asked what contributed to the making of Amitava, and pat came his reply, "mistakes and failures made the author in me". He said his fondness for George Orwell and his subtle descriptions in his works made him his ardent follower and it was he who was an early influence on him as a writer.

As an answer to one question put forward from the audience, he said while writing a book, every single day he would jot down every relevant and minor details on a note pad, which would later form the draft of his work.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    source: TNN

Attractive,colorful and elegant sarees to promote culturally rich Madhubani district in Bihar by focusing on Madhubani designs.

The six-yard gets ethnic with a mythological twist - a range of saris inspired by Madhubani paintings with focus on mythology has been launched.

Utsav Fashion, an online fashion brand, has launched its exclusive collection of saris to promote culturally rich Madhubani district in Bihar by focusing on Madhubani designs, traditional fabrics and textiles.

The paintings are skilfully made using wooden nibs and brushes on cotton and pure silk fabrics, making each sari an art piece. 

The subtle and sombre colours are extracted from ingredients like turmeric and hibiscus. Intricate Madhubani painted motifs also reflect an understated elegance.

Artisans also create symbols like fish, sun and bamboo leaves on the handwoven fabrics to signify its deep correlation with nature. 

The wide range of Madhubani saris, starting from Rs.3950 are available only at Utsav Fashion. 

 

  Source: Webindia123, Jul 3 2013,