(BiharTimes) Overemphasized pursuit for special state status and its projection as panacea of all the ills that plague economy of Bihar could not have been any farther from the truth.  Though a strong votary of claim of Bihar for the same, I cannot avoid pointing out the bankruptcy of ideas on taking economy of Bihar forward. Bihar government is yet to learn the art of ‘Making Things Happen’. Here lies the chink in Bihar Development Model, if it exists at all. Government of Bihar lacks in its ability to deliver on grandiose plans, and hence has limited planning big now.  Gujarat development model on the other hand has mastered the art of ‘Making Things Happen’. It dreams big and also strives to realize those dreams. Notwithstanding numerous claims in regards to Bihar Model, a laggard state cannot be an ideal role model to follow. Otherwise, the better of states will have to fall back from their lead positions to follow a laggard state like Bihar. Not a desired situation at all!

Much touted Bihar development model is heavy on rhetoric and low on substance.  Self interest of its champions eclipses even the desired overriding objective of well being of state. When the government in the state is guided by politically expedient decisions, the veneer of development will not stick for long. Had this government in state not shown indifference to various railway projects announced by its political opponents, the story might have been a shade better. Just by following up assiduously on completion of various projects announced by ministers in UPA I, some better economic outcome could have been achieved.  Similarly, by throwing spanner in the plan for a new airport for Patna, government of Bihar is compromising on the interest of state. Even the bipartisan demand of special state status has been so thoroughly politicised in the state itself, not to say the opposition from other states, that it is unlikely to be reality anytime soon. A parochial pursuit for the same has created unwarranted opposition all around.

The present excitement around ‘special state status’ is borne out  of a pure administrative action at the planning commission to operationalize the recommendations inherent in 12th five year plan document. However, to be more precise, this relates to sharing of BRGF fund between various claimants and is not related to Special State Status criteria in anyway.  Plan document has been prepared through wider public consultations and is driven by the feedback received in course of such consultations.  Of course, one such consultation has been with the state governments as well, including government in Bihar. There is a specific recommendation to restructure criteria for devolution of funds under BRGF so as to reflect indices of backwardness in right measure.  Same has been part of the draft plan document released for NDC meeting in December, as has also been commented upon by me in my previous article, and indeed has got nothing to do with success of Adhikar Rallies. As such, there is nothing new in this information other than that it has been formally announced to media by the planning commission. The bytes crazy media has picked up this information now and started looking for meaning in this proposition even when there is none. However, it is possible that there could be some political meaning in making a well publicized announcement and also about its timing. Unfortunately, subsequent pronouncements of JDU leaders intended at taking credit for the same has made it sound more like  a political bargain and blackmailing, creating unnecessary opposition to a policy which could be favourable to Bihar.

A bigger claim to the pie is bound to invite opposition from the other claimants, as can be seen in response of other CMs. Solution would be in enlarging the pie or finding alternative means to build and sustain the economic activity. Alas! Government of Bihar is not working on alternatives and is hankering only after a bigger share in the pie to be offered by central government. Fight for the rightful share as much as it can, but the state needs to think beyond the limited pie at some point of time.  If government of Bihar really wants to selflessly take the state forward it should focus on the following other measures and propose the same to central government for execution:

• Demand Parity in Economic Infrastructures through Central Investment
• Raxaul Paradip Eastern Economic Corridor
• Delhi-Kolkata Industrial Corridor
• Hajipur-Samstipur-Kusheshwarsthan-Mahishi-Madhepura-Purnia High speed Transport Corridor
• Baliya Malda Ganga Expressways
• Railway Bridges at:
• Aarah  Chhapara
• Bhagalpur- Naugachhiya
• Manihari-Sahibganj
• Bakhatiyarpur-Patori
• Thawe-Motihari
• Kusheshwarsthan-Mahishi
• Four lane highway corridors:
• Rajauli-Gaya-Daudnagar-Vikramganj-Dumaraon
• Nawada-Jamui-Banka-Godda
• Expeditious completion of Bihar leg of National Gas Grids
• Jagdishpur-Gaya-Haldiya
• Gaya-Purnia-Guwahati
• River Linking Projects:
• Sapt kosi High Dam and Sun Kosi Diversion Project
• Kosi -Mechhi Link canal
• Kosi-Gandak-Ghghara-Ganga link canal
• Development of hub cities:
• Patna – Capital city with metro network
• Muzaffarpur
• Gaya
• Purnia
• Bhagalpur
• Darbhanga
• Parity in Socio-Economic Infrastructure
• Multi Agency Multi Institutional  International Research Complex, Nalanda
• IISER
• IIM
• Revival of Vikramshila University as a CU
• Strategic Seeding  of Industry with the help of Central PSUs
• Co-opt IOC, GAIL, HP,BP, Iffco, NFL, RCF  etc for PCPIR Complex at Barauni
• Co-opt BHEL, NTPC, NHPC, PGCIL, Railway for Electrical Industry hub at Madhepura
• Co-opt SAIL, RINL, Railways, BEML, Ordnance Factory Board for Mechanical Industry Hub at Marhaura
• Co-Opt HAL, ISRO, DRDO for Aerospace Technology hub at  Nalanda

Instead of plucking up the low hanging fruits as mentioned above, favours which central government cannot deny to Bihar without exposing itself to the charges of biasness, the state seems to be treading the most difficult course of getting special state status tag. Even if, the state were to win such a status after along struggle, it may still not be in position to reap the full benefit for want of supportive infrastructure. It is inconceivable, how Bihar can attract private investor when it does not have necessary support infrastructure like power, gas grids, efficient road /railway connectivity to port. Moreover, its higher education continues to be in shambles.  Technology and research infrastructure is conspicuous by its absence. How can the state support emergence of a new age knowledge economy under the given situation?
State government can do a lot at its own end to soar up the state of economy. It needs to explore alternative means of mobilizing resources and usher in large scale governance reforms commensurate with the challenges encountered. Besides, government of Bihar should reorganize its administrative units in a balanced structure and must also work on skill development aspects. Some of the steps which state can take from its side are:

• Monetization of States own non Revenue Generating Assets
• Levying of User Charges/Fees on services an assets
• Administrative reorganization of state for better effectiveness
• Improve access to and develop a self sustaining funding model for higher education

• Securitization of Viable Revenue Generating Projects
• Raising Resources against Future Cash Flows in form of fee user charges etc.
• Separation of actors responsible for Consumption, Supply and Regulation
• Adoption of Framework of Effective and Efficient Governance, viz:
• Governance process reengineering to weed out inefficiencies.
• Automated Workflows to cut through procedural bottlenecks
• Adoption of Program Risk Evaluation and Management Framework
• Governance Dashboard for Key Metrics Monitoring

Shorn of all kind of rhetoric, polity in state should focus on rebuilding Bihar. It should not arrogate the right to champion lofty ideals in vain, and rather dedicate itself to the task at hand. Wise men talk less and act more!  And yes, there are enough wise men in rest of India to take care of the affairs of this country. Wise men from Bihar should focus more on the affairs of their native state. Bihar should first try to forge ahead of other states on various developmental indices before even thinking of presenting itself as a development role model for rest of India to follow.  For discerning eyes, Bihar model of development simply does not exist where as Gujarat model is for real. Only way one can negate the Gujarat model is by saying that it is not ‘inclusive’. Worst thing in this argument is that there is no factual proof in contemporary Gujarat to prove this point. Only fallback to prove this ‘non inclusive’ theory is to fall back on the riots of 2002. In one sentence, Gujarat model is about meticulous planning, optimal resource utilization, innovative thinking, efficient executions and efficient deliveries.  In contrast, Bihar is still grappling to come to terms with these attributes.
Perception is also sought to be created that by running community specific schemes (reverse exclusion), one would be able to insure more inclusive development of all.  In this model of inclusion, community entitlements get precedence over individual entitlements even when intended beneficiaries are individuals. Worst thing is that more deserving beneficiaries may be discarded in favour of less deserving beneficiaries, as entitlements are earmarked for communities.  Someone needs to dispel the misplaced notion that by pandering to well entrenched interest groups of a community, one would be able to ensure inclusive growth of all individuals of that community. Growth model need to touch life of a person as an individual to be really inclusive, and should not be a subject matter of hobnobbing with a section or leadership of the communities.  So an inclusive model should be evaluated based on how many deserving individuals have got the benefit of developmental program without any discrimination.
Towards the end, I will still pray that Bihar gets that elusive Special State Status tag and would celebrate the same as and when the state gets it. However, since same is not visible anywhere on the horizon, I would like to conclude by saying ‘At the moment, Delhi is quite far away’.