Beaming with satisfaction and optimism, Bihar chief minister and JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar on Saturday presented a “report card” for his government’s seventh year in power, asserting that his “development with justice” model of governance had started showing expected positive results.
Speaking for an hour at a ceremony attended by ministers of the JD(U)-BJP coalition government and top officials, Mr Kumar said his endeavours for inclusive growth through policy interventions and ground-level monitoring had shaken up all spheres of public life and the economy in Bihar. He and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP released a 96-page booklet, sleekly printed in three languages, carrying details of the achievements by various departments during 2012.
“A zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, transparency in functioning of the government, making public services more people-friendly, maintaining social harmony and public safety have been the hallmarks of our government, which have attracted international attention and admiration,” said Mr Kumar.
Mr Kumar cited the enactment of a stronger Lokayukta law that brought all elected public representatives, including the CM and all government employees in it purview, the Right to Public Service Act that has benefited 2.5 crore people in the past 15 months, construction of basic infrastructure like roads and bridges, making of the agricultural road map for the next 10 years and the appointment of about 1.5 lakh school teachers as the high points of his government.
Repeating his vow not to seek votes unless Bihar’s dismal power scenario was fully fixed before 2015, Mr Kumar said multi-pronged efforts were at work to dispel power scarcity. He also spoke glowingly of the improvements in Bihar’s health and tourism sectors. Of industrialisation, still a non-starter, he said investor interest in Bihar had increased. The conviction of 75,000 criminals through speedy trials during the past seven years, Mr Kumar said, was a sign of the rule of law in Bihar.
“Bihar is moving ahead on the right development tracks with justice for all,” Mr Kumar said.