Sunday, December 12, 2010

Congratulations everyone for the new government in Bihar

Congratulations everyone for the new government in Bihar. Definitely, Mr. Nitish Kumar is the best available option and one of the best CM.

As I mentioned from time to time I am working on a book, ‘Revive Bihar’. I have been meeting people from different background and collecting views on developing Bihar. I would like to quote couple of instances about his governance.

One of my uncles, works in state government. Once he visited me and I asked him about CM’s work. He said that he expects monthly reports from each department and keeps track of them proactively. That is an excellent example of his governance!

I met a director in a state government organization. He said that Nitish is different. He openly tells “Beware! If you are involved in any kind of corruption then be prepared for the consequences. Don’t expect any help from me.” That reflects his commitment against corruption.

I met a marketing head of a car show room in Patna and asked him what he feels about this government. He said we are able to do business without any threat from criminals or any one. There was a time when he used to get phone calls in midnight with threatening like “Mother F***ER” why you did not give car to my men. He was so pissed off, he just moved out of Bihar. When Mr. Kumar came in power and delivered on his promise to control law and order, the manager came back to Patna.

There are dozens of such instances I know and I am sure even you have hundreds of such stories to tell.

People of Bihar voted Mr. Kumar in spite of the allegations of 11412 Crore scam. Whenever I read about any of such scams, I feel cheated and get angry. Why not? We work hard, compete, earn and pay significant amount of our income as income tax. And our money is looted by these criminals in white disguise.

Then I must say that Bihar is already on the path of revival, a big round of applaud of Mr. Kumar. I personally feel he is a great leader but he is like a lotus in mud. He is surrounded mostly by persons who are incompetent, opportunist and mainly focus on corruption. On the path of money making they go to any extent which continues to hurt Bihar and India on the whole. So handling this cancerous people is a big task for Mr. Kumar. Let me tell you few related stories.

With vision to form an Infosys in Patna, my few enthusiastic and successful friends in different corner of world worked on a Project Plan to start a company for Software Development and Information Technology Enabled Services with ambitions to start with few hundred professional and recruit 5000 professional in next few years. To help them I personally visited the Biscomaun Bhawan in Patna which is declared as IT Park by the state government of Bihar. Not to my surprise, it was stinking and full with garbage and filth like any other office premises there. I contacted state government officials to discuss the IT policy posted at the state government website (http://gov.bih.nic.in). The policy prominently proclaimed about formation of single window to help entrepreneurs and other benefits and subsidies. I was told that the policy is still in draft version. I visited SIDBI office for funding and I was told that I should contact Kolkata office.

Government need to deliver on the promises of the formation of single window for entrepreneurs and establish entrepreneur friendly infrastructure.

One of my friends successfully established an educational institution in Bihar but this was not easy. When he contacted state government for allocation of land he was quoted fours time of the existing market prices.

Such harassment must be stopped. Entrepreneurs plays significant role in development of any state and nation. No one in any government should treat them as sacrifice goat or money making machine.

I am sure that the record breaking mandate by people of Bihar will arm him with sufficient weapons and confidence to tackle corrupt ones.

Please feel free to post your views and stories and continue to invite people to join BRF!

God bless Bihar!

Amitabh Jha
BRF