DOCSLIB.ORG

Bihar's Political Reform and Its Impact on the Rest of India

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Bihar's Political Reform and Its Impact on the Rest of India :: Issue Analysis Bihar’s political reform and its impact on the rest of India Santosh Kumar Business Analyst of POSCO Research Institutes, Delhi office ihar, the poorest state of India, has finally turned around both economically and politically and is seen as the biggest achievement of India. On the one hand, it achieved an B unprecedented growth rate of 11.35% (only second to Gujarat at 11.05%) in past five years and, on the other, it also broke out of the shackles of caste-ridden politics and overwhelmingly voted for developmental politics in the Assembly election in November 2010 under the leadership of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Chief Minister (CM), Nitish Kumar. Bihar’s turnaround has now made Bihar a role model of vikas ki rajneeti (development-led politics) and sushasan (good governance) for the rest of India. There is popular perception that if Bihar, India’s most laggard state, can change, no one can stop India from becoming a world economic superpower. 123 Summer 2011�POSRI Chindia Quarterly Bihar Fact File Total Area 94,163㎢ Population 83 millions (3rd largest) Youth Population 58% (largest in India) Literacy 47% (2001) No. of Districts (Towns) 38 (130) Capital City Patna Urbanization 10.5% Road Length 82,959 kms Railway Length 5,400 kms Airports Patna & Gaya Economy Bases Service & agriculture Minerals Limestone, mica, gold Language Hindi, Urdu & English Religion Hindus (83%) Local Assembly 243 seats National Parliament 40 seats Political Parties JD(U), BJP, RJD Political Leaders Nitish, Modi, Laloo New Political Agenda Development with justice ○● Laloo’s Bihar (1990-2005) Bihar’s Vaishali, a place near Patna, gave the first republic to the world in 600 B.C and was one of the most powerful provinces of India throughout the Indian history. However, especially during the 15 years of caste-ridden political governance of Laloo-Rabri (1990-2005), Bihar lost mainstream development and became India’s poorest state when the rest of India joined the mainstream development. Its economy deteriorated, infrastructures crumbled, industries closed, inter-caste violence increased, crime syndicates flourished, scams increased, unemployment multiplied and administration turned anarchic. Millions of Biharis migrated to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore etc. in search of jobs. According to the World Bank, 124 POSRI Chindia Quarterly�Summer 2011 :: Issue Analysis Bihar experienced from zero to 3.5% growth rates There is popular perception that if in the 1990s. Separation of Bihar, India’s most laggard state, mineral-rich Jharkhand can change, no one can stop India from becoming a world economic from Bihar in 2000 further superpower. deteriorated the condition of Bihar’s economy. Bihar and Biharis began to be identified with the buffoonish speaking accent of Laloo. Bihar and Biharis became a subject of ridicule outside Bihar. Laloo-Rabri’s 15-year rule is notorious for kushasan (bad governance), contrary to Nitish’s sushasan. The only achievement of Laloo-Rabri is that they awakened the aspirations of the backward castes for power-sharing in the high caste-dominated society and politics of Bihar. But merely awakening their aspirations without making any provisions of economic security further tore apart the social fabric of Bihar and resulted into loot and anarchy. This was the social and economic mess and political jungle-raj (law of the jungle) that Nitish Kumar inherited from his predecessors, Laloo and Rabri, when he became Bihar’s CM in 2005. ○● Nitish’s Bihar (since 2005) In 2005 Bihar Assembly election, Janata Dal(United) or JD(U) and BJP won the majority of seats and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar took over as the CM of Bihar and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi took over as deputy CM in November 2005. Nitish and Sushil, both long time friends since the JP Movement of the 1970s had a very herculean task to administer economically devastated and socially disturbed Bihar. Nitish government’s first job was to establish the rule of law and order in society. Since 2005, Nitish government has convicted more than 40,000 criminals and has neutralized crimes to a great extent in Bihar. Nitish and his team adopted development with justice as his political agenda, which was welcomed by all sections of the society. 125 Summer 2011�POSRI Chindia Quarterly He framed policies for industries, agriculture, and administration. Building infrastructure, especially roads and bridges, was his priority. Bihar started turning around, and the results of growth started showing in terms of improved law and order situation, newly built roads, rural electrification, improved standard of administration, etc. Between 2004-05 and 2008-09, Bihar witnessed a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.35%, making Bihar the second fastest growing state after Gujarat. Three sectors witnessed exponentially high growth rates—construction (36%), communications (18%), trade, hotel and restaurants (18%). The fact that Bihar, once a no-go area for foreign tourists, attracted more foreign tourists than Goa in 2009 proves that not only the law and order has drastically improved in Bihar but also the transportation facility has also improved. Nitish government’s janta-darbar (public hearing) to resolve complaints of aam admi (common people) draw him many followers from the weaker sections. Women empowerment through various social schemes drew him huge support from women. He gave 50% reservation to women in the village level panchayat elections. He incentivized girls’ education through free distribution of school uniforms and bicycles. Further, his zero tolerance against corruption earned him an image of a clean man unlike Laloo and Rabri. In the past five years, Nitish has successfully changed the casteist mindset of the Yearly Growth Rate (%) of Bihar GSDP at 1999-00 Prices 25 22 20 16.59 15 11.82 12.17 10 8.04 5 1.49 0 2001-02 2002-03 2004-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 -5 -4.73 -5.15 (Nitish Govt) -10 Source: Bihar Economic Survey (2009-10) 126 POSRI Chindia Quarterly�Summer 2011 :: Issue Analysis Laloo-Rabri’s Bihar towards development-oriented Bihar. Consequently, people of Bihar voted him back to power in 2010 for the next five years. Today Bihar is a socially, politically, and economically reformed state of India though there is still much to be done. Its journey has at least begun. ○● Leadership factor Bihar’s turnaround success is mainly attributed to the visionary leadership of Nitish and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi. Nitish adopted the reforms recommended by the Administrative Reform Commission (ARC). Nitish called upon the talented people to come forward with innovative suggestions to make Bihar a progressive state. Nitish made a team of skilled bureaucrats and professionals to frame vision and policies for the development of Bihar. Nitish government ably handled the rehabilitation of nearly 2.3 million people of northern Bihar affected by Koshi river flood in 2008. Though the flood was a tragedy, it turned out to be an opportunity for Nitish to show how efficient leader he actually is. Nitish flood relief handling was nationally and internationally appreciated. Further, Nitish’s zero tolerance against corruption is a sign of strong leadership. Beyond Right to Information Act, 2005, Nitish government is making Right to Service Act for the first time in India to make bureaucrats fully accountable. He thinks that merely getting information under RTI, 2005 is not enough; rendering of service on time is essential. Narendra Modi of Gujarat, Naveen Patnaik of Orissa and Nitish of Bihar do developmental politics, but Nitish is different from Modi as he is a benign and moderate leader unlike Modi. Nitish is also different from Patnaik as he does not have a family legacy unlike Patnaik. Experts can attribute Bihar’s turnaround to a number of internal and external factors, but the single most factor of Bihar’s turnaround is Nitish’s dedicated leadership. Nitish’s work has been nationally and internationally appreciated by bodies 127 Summer 2011�POSRI Chindia Quarterly like the Planning Commission of India and the World Bank. Nitish was also selected as Indian of the Year in 2010 by CNN-IBN. ○● Promotion of industry Before Nitish, there was no industrial policy as such in Bihar. He made Industrial Incentive Policy, 2006 to offer incentives such as stamp duty exemption on lease/sale of land for industry, 80% VAT reimbursements for ten years, 50% reimbursement on capital investment in power plant and machinery, etc. Bihar Single Window Clearance Act, 2006 was made to grant faster approvals. Nitish has appealed to industrialists to invest in Bihar. Though Bihar could not attract big industries in past five years but it did attract a number of small and medium industries. As many as 245 proposals were approved by State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) by 2009 for INR 133.84 crores. Food processing, power plant and steel processing are major investment areas. Recently, Nitish has appreciated the pace at which China is making progress. He is also looking for some big-brand industries to come to Bihar. ○● Unprecedented victory Bihar has 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly. In Bihar Assembly election (2005), the JD(U)-BJP won 143 out of 243 seats but in Assembly election (2010), JD(U)-BJP won 206 out of 243. Party Performance in Bihar Assembly Elections (2005 & 2010) This is the biggest election victory of Parties 2005 2010 any political combination in India. This JD(U) 88 115 victory has decimated Laloo and NDA BJP 55 91 Congress completely. There is no RJD 54 22 political party qualified to become an LJP 10 03 Congress 09 04 opposition party in the Bihar Assembly. Others 27 08 Nitish can be rightly credited with this Total 243 243 victory, but there are certain socio- 128 POSRI Chindia Quarterly�Summer 2011 :: Issue Analysis political equations that worked in his favor.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Dalit Factor in Bihar's Politics
    7. The (Maha) Dalit Factor in Bihar’s Politics Shreyas Sardesai* Until the 2010 election for the Bihar Assembly, elections in the state were largely analysed in terms of a six caste categories – Upper castes, Yadavs, other OBCs, Pasis, other Dalits and Muslims. Since 2007 however, Bihar politics has witnessed new developments and the caste dimension of elections cannot be fully understood without taking into account two additional caste categories, namely EBCs or Extremely Backward Classes, and Mahadalits. This chapter seeks to analyse the emergence of latter and its implications. In August 2007, the Nitish Kumar led JDU-BJP government set up the Bihar State Mahadalit Commission to “identify the castes within Scheduled Castes who lagged behind in the development process” and to “study [their] educational and social status and suggest measures for [their] upliftment”. In April 2008, 18 Dalit castes were brought under the Mahadalit category to begin with. These are Bantar, Bauri, Bhogta, Bhuiya, Chaupal, Dabgar, Dom/Dhangad, Ghasi, Halalkhor, Hari/Mehtar/Bhangi, Kanjar, Kurariar, Lalbegi, Musahar, Nat, Pan/Swasi, Rajwar and Turi. Three months later Dhobi and Pasi castes were also added to the Mahadalit category based on the Commission’s recommendation and then Chamars were also included in the Mahadalit category by the state government in November 2009 on the grounds that they too were lagging in literacy and economic status and were victims of untouchability at the hands of other Mahadalit castes1. The only sub-caste that was left out was Paswan or Dusadh *Author is Research Associate at Lokniti, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Spaces of Exception: Statelessness and the Experience of Prejudice'
    London School of Economics and Political Science HISTORIES OF DISPLACEMENT AND THE CREATION OF POLITICAL SPACE: ‘STATELESSNESS’ AND CITIZENSHIP IN BANGLADESH Victoria Redclift Submitted to the Department of Sociology, LSE, for the degree of PhD, London, July 2011. Victoria Redclift 21/03/2012 For Pappu 2 Victoria Redclift 21/03/2012 Declaration I confirm that the following thesis, presented for examination for the degree of PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science, is entirely my own work, other than where I have clearly indicated that it is the work of others. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that full acknowledgement is made. This thesis may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of the author. I warrant that this authorization does not, to the best of my belief, infringe the rights of any third party. ____________________ ____________________ Victoria Redclift Date 3 Victoria Redclift 21/03/2012 Abstract In May 2008, at the High Court of Bangladesh, a ‘community’ that has been ‘stateless’ for over thirty five years were finally granted citizenship. Empirical research with this ‘community’ as it negotiates the lines drawn between legal status and statelessness captures an important historical moment. It represents a critical evaluation of the way ‘political space’ is contested at the local level and what this reveals about the nature and boundaries of citizenship. The thesis argues that in certain transition states the construction and contestation of citizenship is more complicated than often discussed. The ‘crafting’ of citizenship since the colonial period has left an indelible mark, and in the specificity of Bangladesh’s historical imagination, access to, and understandings of, citizenship are socially and spatially produced.
    [Show full text]
  • Education Policy in West Bengal
    Education Policy In West Bengal meekly.Sometimes How uncomfortable lax is Francis Daviswhen misappropriateswiggly and infusive her Simone ranking avoidunknightly, some butpolemarch? bistred Boris mothers illegally or hypostatised soaringly. Rad overcome Boys dropped and development of hindu state govemment has been prescribed time, varshiki and west in urban areas contract teachers and secondary schools The policy research methodology will be? How effectively utilize kyan has been set up to west bengal indicate that would support in education policy west bengal? Huq was not in west in bengal education policy, which were zamindars as a perfect crime reporter in. To achieve gender norms and. After a voluntary organisations were built by employing ict. The new leaders dominated western sciences are often takes drugs? Textbooks were dedicated to icse and. Candidates each other. This chapter will help many of education policy? Maulvi syed ahmed also seek different legislative framework. This background to wash their islamic culture of schools but hindus for studies will be cleared without persian. West bengal government wanted muslim. Muslim inspectors are involved with parents, private schools has not really sufficient progress as fazlul huq was highest academic year plan period financial. There is of west bengal proposed by hindu consciousness among muslims education policy in west bengal and. Initially muslim students from lower classes with other stationeries, by japanese bombs followed. As to maintain their capability enhancement with an urgent issue as fees, separate nation one primary level for? Prime objective of policies were not enrolled into limelight once all. The policies were still taken into professional training facility to continue securing grants.
    [Show full text]
  • Citizens of Nowhere
    A POWERFUL VOICE FOR LIFESAVING ACTION ciTizens of nowhere The STaTeless BihariS of BangladeSh Maureen Lynch & ThaTcher cook To The reader Millions of people in the world are citizens of nowhere. They can- not vote. They cannot get jobs in most professions. They cannot own property or obtain a passport. These “stateless” people frequently face discrimination, harassment, violence, and severe socioeconomic hardship. due to their status, they are often denied access to even the most basic healthcare and education that is available to citizens in the same country. The Biharis of Bangladesh are one such stateless population. Ban- gladesh has hosted 240,000–300,000 Biharis (also called stranded Pakistanis) since the civil war between east and West Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. neither Pakistan nor Bangla- desh claims Biharis as citizens. in november 2004, refugees international visited 11 Bihari camps in Bangladesh. We now invite you to learn more about their situation and to help restore the rights of these stateless individuals. We would like to offer special thanks to each individual who willingly and courageously told us their stories. Much apprecia- tion is due everyone who provided support for the original field visit on which this project is based and who helped in the production of this photo report. Maureen lynch and Thatcher Cook refugees international The photographs for further information in this report lives on hold: The human Cost of Statelessness, were taken by a Refugees International publication available online at: Thatcher Cook. http://www.refintl.org/content/issue/detail/5051 thatcher@ thatchercook.com fifty Years in limbo: The Plight of the World’s Stateless People, a Refugees International publication available online at: http://www.refintl.org/content/article/detail/915 JANUARY 2006 Citizens of nowhere: the stateless Biharis of Bangladesh Table of ConTenTs The human Cost of Statelessness .......................
    [Show full text]
  • Narendra Modi Tops, Yogi Adityanath Enters List
    Vol: 23 | No. 4 | April 2017 | R20 www.opinionexpress.in A MONTHLY NEWS MAGAZINE Hindu-Americans divided on Trump’s immigration policy COVER STORY SOARING HIGH The ties between India and Israel were never better The Pioneer Most Powerful Indians in 2017: Narendra Modi tops,OPINI YogiON EXPR AdityanathESS enters list 1 2 OPINION EXPRESS editorial Modi, Yogi & beyond RNI UP–ENG 70032/92, Volume 23, No 4 EDITOR Prashant Tewari – BJP is all set for the ASSOCiate EDITOR Dr Rahul Misra POLITICAL EDITOR second term in 2019 Prakhar Misra he surprise appointment of Yogi Adityanath as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister post BUREAU CHIEF party’s massive victory in the recently concluded assembly elections indicates that Gopal Chopra (DELHI), Diwakar Shetty BJP/RSS are in mission mode for General Election 2019. The new UP CM will (MUMBAI), Sidhartha Sharma (KOLKATA), T ensure strict saffron legislation, compliance and governance to Lakshmi Devi (BANGALORE ) DIvyash Bajpai (USA), KAPIL DUDAKIA (UNITED KINGDOM) consolidate Hindutva forces. The eighty seats are vital to BJP’s re- Rajiv Agnihotri (MAURITIUS), Romil Raj election in the next parliament. PM Narendra Modi is world class Bhagat (DUBAI), Herman Silochan (CANADA), leader and he is having no parallel leader to challenge his suprem- Dr Shiv Kumar (AUS/NZ) acy in the country. In UP, poor Akhilesh and Rahul were just swept CONTENT partner aside-not by polarization, not by Hindu consolidation but simply by The Pioneer Modi’s far higher voltage personality. Pratham Pravakta However the elections in five states have proved that BJP is not LegaL AdviSORS unbeatable.
    [Show full text]
  • India: Effects of Tariffs and Nontariff Measures on U.S. Agricultural Exports
    United States International Trade Commission India: Effects of Tariffs and Nontariff Measures on U.S. Agricultural Exports Investigation No. 332-504 USITC Publication 4107 November 2009 U.S. International Trade Commission COMMISSIONERS Shara L. Aranoff, Chairman Daniel R. Pearson, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun Charlotte R. Lane Irving A. Williamson Dean A. Pinkert Robert A. Rogowsky Director of Operations Karen Laney-Cummings Director, Office of Industries Address all communications to Secretary to the Commission United States International Trade Commission Washington, DC 20436 U.S. International Trade Commission Washington, DC 20436 www.usitc.gov India: Effects of Tariffs and Nontariff Measures on U.S. Agricultural Exports Investigation No. 332-504 Publication 4107 November 2009 This report was prepared principally by the Office of Industries Project Leader George S. Serletis [email protected] Deputy Project Leader Brian Allen [email protected] Laura Bloodgood, Joanna Bonarriva, John Fry, John Giamalva, Katherine Linton, Brendan Lynch, and Marin Weaver Primary Reviewers Alexander Hammer and Deborah McNay Office of Economics Michael Ferrantino, Jesse Mora, Jose Signoret, and Marinos Tsigas Administrative Support Phyllis Boone, Monica Reed, and Wanda Tolson Under the direction of Jonathan R. Coleman, Chief Agriculture and Fisheries Division Abstract This report describes and analyzes policies and other factors that affect U.S. agricultural exports to India. The findings suggest that India’s high agricultural tariffs are a significant impediment to U.S. agricultural exports and that certain Indian nontariff measures (NTMs), including sanitary and phyosanitary measures, substantially limit or effectively prohibit certain U.S. agricultural products. Agriculture is vital to India’s economy, accounting for a substantial share of employment (60 percent) and GDP (17 percent).
    [Show full text]
  • Hon'ble Chief Minister of Bihar-Shri Nitish Kumar
    Hon'ble Chief Minister of Bihar-Shri Nitish Kumar Profile: Tel: 2215601, 2217289 Fax- +91-612- 2224129 Email : [email protected] Fathers' Name : Late Kaviraj Ram Lakhan Singh Mother's Name : Late Parmeshwari Devi Date of Birth : 1st March, 1951 Place of Birth : Bakhtiarpur, District - Patna, State - Bihar. Marital Status : Married Date of Marriage : 22nd February, 1973. Spouse's Name : Late Manju Kumari Sinha. No. of Children : One. Educational Qualification : B.Sc. (Engineering) Educated at Bihar College of Engineering, Patna, Bihar. Profession : Political & Social worker, Agriculturist, Engineer. Permanent Address : Village - Hakikatpur , PO - Bakhtiarpur , District -Patna, Bihar Present Address : Patna, Bihar. Positions Held 1985-89 : Member, Bihar Legislative Assembly. 1986-87 : Member, Committee on Petitions, Bihar Legislative Assembly 1987-88 : President, Yuva Lok Dal, Bihar. 1987-89 : Member, Committee on Public Undertakings, Bihar Legislative Assembly 1989 : Secretary - General, Janata Dal, Bihar 1989 : Elected to 9th Lok Sabha. 1989-16/07/1990 : Member, House Committee (Resigned). 04/1990-11/1990 : Union Minister of State, Agriculture and Co-operation. 1991 : Re - elected to 10th Lok Sabha (2nd term). 1991-93 : General - Secretary, Janata Dal, Dy Leader of Janta Dal in Parliament 17/12/91-10/5/96 : Member, Railway Convention Committee. 8/4/93-10/5/96 : Chairman, Committee on Agriculture. 1996 : Re- elected to 11th Lok Sabha (3rd term) Member. Committee on Estimates. Member, General Purposes Committee. Member, Joint Committee on the Constitution (Eighty-first Amendment Bill, 1996). 1996-98 : Member, Committee on Defence. 1998 : Re- elected to 12th Lok Sabha (4th term) 19/3/98-5/8/99 : Union Cabinet Minister, Railways.
    [Show full text]
  • Bangladesh: Urdu-Speaking “Biharis” Seek Recognition, Respect and Rights Bangladesh: Urdu-Speaking “Biharis” Seek Recognition, Respect and Rights
    BANGLADESH: URDU-SPEAKING “BIHARIS” SEEK RECOGNITION, RESPECT AND RIGHTS BANGLADESH: URDU-SPEAKING “BIHARIS” SEEK RECOGNITION, RESPECT AND RIGHTS International Republican Institute IRI.org @IRIglobal © 2020 All Rights Reserved Bangladesh: Urdu-Speaking “Biharis” Seek Recognition, Respect and Rights Copyright © 2020 International Republican Institute. All rights reserved. Permission Statement: No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the International Republican Institute. Requests for permission should include the following information: • The title of the document for which permission to copy material is desired. • A description of the material for which permission to copy is desired. • The purpose for which the copied material will be used and the manner in which it will be used. • Your name, title, company or organization name, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and mailing address. Please send all requests for permission to: Attn: Department of External Affairs International Republican Institute 1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 [email protected] Cover Image Description: Aerial view of the Biharis Relief Camp, known as the “Geneva Camp.” IRI | BANGLADESH • Urdu-Speaking “Biharis” 3 OVERVIEW In early 2020, the International Republican Institute (IRI) conducted a qualitative research study of the Bihari community in Bangladesh — an Urdu-speaking linguistic minority group in the South Asian nation. The study examined the challenges and needs of Biharis in different locations around Bangladesh. The term “Bihari” refers to approximately 300,000 non-Bengali, Urdu-speaking citizens of Bangladesh who came to what was then East Pakistan mostly from the Indian states of Bihar and West Bengal after the Partition of India in 1947.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Session Addressed by Shri Sushil Kumar Modi, Chairman
    Special Session addressed by Shri Sushil Kumar Modi, Chairman, Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Implementation of Goods and Services Tax, Government of India and Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Bihar on ‘GST : Some Imperatives and The Visible Roadmap’: The Chamber organised a Special Session addressed by Shri Sushil Kumar Modi, Chairman, Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Implementation of Goods and Services Tax, Government of India and Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Bihar on ‘GST : Some Imperatives and The Visible Roadmap’ on 27 th April, 2013 at 11.15 a.m. at The Park Hotel, Kolkata. Welcoming Shri Modi , Shri Sajjan Bhajanka, Senior Vice-President of the Chamber observed that GST is one of the most important forward looking steps towards fiscal reforms and harmonisation of taxes levied in India. GST was first conceived in 2004 and proposed in the Union Budget – 2006, Shri Bhajanka stated. Various reasons, such as the clash of interest of the Centre and States, have so far delayed its implementation. However, under the stewardship of Shri Modi many of the frictions in the path of implementation of GST has been cleared out. Shri Bhajanka emphasised that implementation of GST would help in creating a single Indian common market for all goods and services. This, in turn, would help in bringing supply chain efficiencies which will lead to higher growth of GDP on a sustainable basis. Shri Bhajanka stated that there are two fundamental issues concerning GST. One of them being the concept of uniformity in GST, which is to be shared between the Centre and States.
    [Show full text]
  • The End of Bihari Statelessness Khalid Hussain
    30 STATELESSNESS FMR32 The end of Bihari statelessness Khalid Hussain Approximately 160,000 stateless Biharis live in 116 for Bangladeshi citizens – giving makeshift settlements in Bangladesh. Despite recent access to 22 basic services. developments in voter and ID registration, they continue to A three-member delegation from the live in slum-like conditions, facing regular discrimination. camps, including a member of the Association of Young Generation The people known in Bangladesh education and health-care facilities of Urdu-Speaking Community, as ‘Biharis’ or ‘stranded Pakistanis’ hampers community development.1 Geneva Camp, met the Chief Election are the Urdu-speaking descendants Commissioner of Bangladesh in July of Muslims who lived in different Some of the camp residents, 2007 and submitted a petition for the Indian provinces but mostly in Bihar particularly the younger ones, have inclusion of camp residents in the and who, at India’s partition in 1947, been struggling for years to be new list of voters. On 6 September 2007, the government agreed to give citizenship to those Urdu- speaking Biharis born after 1971 or who were under 18 years at the date of the creation of Bangladesh. In November 2007, twenty-three eminent academics, journalists, lawyers and human rights activists, in a joint statement, urged the government to offer citizenship rights, in line with the country’s constitution, to all Urdu-speaking people in camps in Bangladesh. In August 2008, the Election Commission began a drive to register the Urdu-speaking communities in the settlements around Bangladesh. This was an important first step towards integrating these minority communities into Bangladeshi society.
    [Show full text]
  • Rajya Sabha —— Revised List of Business
    RAJYA SABHA —— REVISED LIST OF BUSINESS Tuesday, July 27, 2021 _______ 11 A.M. ——— OBITUARY REFERENCES OBITUARY REFERENCES to the passing away of — 1. Shri Wasim Ahmad (ex-Member); 2. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, former President and former Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius; and 3. Dr. Kenneth David Buchizhya Kaunda, Founding Father and First President of the Republic of Zambia ———— PAPERS TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE Following Ministers to lay papers on the Table, entered in the separate list: — 1. DR. JITENDRA SINGH for Ministry of Science and Technology; 2. SHRI PANKAJ CHAOWDHARY for Ministry of Finance; 3. DR. BHAGWAT KARAD for Ministry of Finance; and 4. DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ———— REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY DR. K. KESHAVA RAO SHRI SANJAY SETH SHRI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE PILLI to present the 308th Report (in English and Hindi) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry on “Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on MSME Sector & Mitigation Strategy adopted to counter it”. ———— REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE, RAJYA SABHA SHRI K.C. RAMAMURTHY SHRI DEEPAK PRAKASH SHRI G.K.VASAN to present the 162nd Report (in English and Hindi) of the Committee on Papers Laid on the Table, Rajya Sabha on ‘Laying of Annual Reports and Audited Accounts of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). ———— 34 REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, TOURISM AND CULTURE SHRI T. G. VENKATESH SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR MODI to present the Two Hundred Ninety Fifth Report (in English and Hindi) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on ‘Potential of Tourist Spots in the country – Connectivity and Outreach’.
    [Show full text]
  • Standing Committee Report on 115Th Constitution Amendment Bill
    73 STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE (2012-13) FIFTEENTH LOK SABHA MINISTRY OF FINANCE (DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE) THE CONSTITUTION (ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011 SEVENTY THIRD REPORT LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI August, 2013, Sravana, 1935 (Saka) 1 SEVENTY THIRD REPORT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE (2012-2013) (FIFTEENTH LOK SABHA) THE CONSTITUTION (ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011 Presented to Lok Sabha on 7 August, 2013 Laid in Rajya Sabha on 7 August, 2013 LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI August, 2013, Sravana, 1935 (Saka) 2 CONTENTS Page Nos. Composition of the Committee………………………………………. Introduction……………………………………………………………. REPORT PART -I I. GST Design 1 II. Salient features of the Bill 7 III. Impact of GST on : (a) Economy 11 (b) Prices 15 (c) Consumer prices – International experiences 17 (d) Producing States and Consuming States 18 (e) MSME and Employment Generation 19 PART-II IV. Issues relating to Amendment Bill 22 (a) Power to make laws with respect to Goods & Services Tax 22 (b) Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) 24 (c) GST Council 26 (d) Goods & Services Tax Dispute Settlement Authority 32 (e) Declared Goods (Article 286) 35 (f) Goods and Services Tax (Article 366) 36 (g) Amendment of Sixth Schedule to the Constitution 40 (h) Amendment of Seventh Schedule to the Constitution 41 (i) Transitional Provision 44 V. Administration and IT Mechanism 45 VI. Compensation Mechanism 46 VII. GST Monitoring Cell 47 VIII. Alternative to GST Model 48 IX. Latest position of the Empowered Committee of State 50 Finance Ministers on the provisions of the Bill X. Consensus between Centre and States on GST Design and 53 CST Compensation Part-III Observations / Recommendations 55 3 APPENDICES I.
    [Show full text]