Cool Bihari: ET Business Reformer

Another accolade for Nitish Kumar for setting Bihar’s development wheels in motion on a fast track mode. Earlier also Nitish has been felicitated for the special effort of his government , he is now the Economic Times Business reformer of the year 2008-09.

The jury members were unanimous in their choice, giving Nitish performance higher rating than any other chief Minister.The national calamity in Bihar following the Kosi river changing its course highlights the state of affairs in Bihar, once rated as the best in administration. Since taking over as the state chief minister, Nitish Kumar has been trying to rebuild the system of governance that has virtually broken down. Bihar being primarily an agricultural state, Mr Kumar has been stressing on agro-based industries.

He believes this will help in keeping land acquisition to a minimum. The chief minister has gone to the extent of saying that he does not want SEZs in the state and his government has identified agro-processing, handloom and textiles, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals and leather as areas with comparative advantage.

The other areas where he has made a good start are employment generation and infrastructure development. He beat other states to put in place an employment-guarantee programme for agricultural labourers, which promises 80 days of work, in addition to the 100 days mandated by the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.

Mr Kumar has also identified promotion of investment opportunities as equally important. With poor infrastructure and the absence of long-term policies hindering private investment, he has kickstarted a series of legislative and administrative reforms. A new industrial policy was put in place in 2006, as was the Bihar Infrastructure Development Enabling Act. A new policy for the sugar processing sector — an important crop in the state — was also brought in.

The new industrial policy makes land available at concessional rates and promises reimbursement of 80% of VAT deposited. And these initiatives seem to have paid off, with the government receiving proposals from a number of big sugar manufacturers. An industrial complex with sugar mills, ethanol and power generation plants has been cleared. Measures to revive the textile industry have also been pushed through. With the state relying almost entirely on the Centre for its power needs, Bihar plans to put up new thermal and hydel power plants.

Labels: Bihar Economic Development, ET, Nitish Kumar, Revival of Bihar

Posted by Ajit Chouhan on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 1:45 PM | Permalink

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Mr. Nitish Kumar Jee has definitely proved to be the most successful CM of Bihar. He has earned many accolade and appreciation not within the state but from outside the state also in our country. His determination to improve the state of dilapidated governance in Bihar has really help restore the image of this state to some extent. But still corrupt bureaucrats and staggering low literacy rate remain a big challenge in front of the present government. Opening of a new IIT is really a hope for improvement in higher technical education, but at the same time drop-out rate at elementary education level is phenomenal and might prove to be a big deterrent for overall development of education sector.

Posted by Anonymous | 12:26 AM

Nitish Kumar is doing a good job. I've seen the development on the ground. The change which never happened during 80s and 90s have started to take shape. The ball is rolling...I feel happy. Thanks for sharing & for your efforts.

Posted by Anonymous | 4:36 PM

Bihar C.M Nitish Kumar deserves for precious gifts,thanks is little for him.He is a Silver line for Bihar.I PERSONALLY RECEIVED SOME LIGHT FROM RESPECTED CM SRI NITISH KUMAR AND AFTER ANALYSISING HIM,I FOUND HE IS A ROLE MODEL OF NEW BIHAR ,I THOUGHT HE IS A ``YUG PURUSH``......for detail also see my blog http://www.nitishkrekyugpurush.blogspot.com
Thanks
Rahul Kumar Singh,Political Writer,

Posted by Rahul Kumar Singh | 11:57 PM

Yes ,this is a right time to bound with a System of Nitish Kumar.He notonly establish the law and order butalso trying to fill the moral and social gap.The moral gap develop a new thinking about corruption which is harmful,it is eradicating by the Chief Minister ..............for details see my blog http://www.nitishkrekyugpurush.blogspot.com,
http://www.rahul123way.wordpress.com,
http://www.nitishkrekyugpurush.wordpress.com

Thanks
Rahul Kumar Singh,Political Writer

Posted by Rahul Kumar Singh | 11:10 PM