Recently there were many announcements for Seemanchal especially for the deprived district of Kishanganj. Like every education aficionado I was on cloud nine to read all such announcements. I think, being a Seemanchal native I could not have asked for more. Let me remind you about all these announcements. Bihar Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar during his recent Kishanganj visit declared that the district will be blessed with an Agriculture college and a Veterinary college at Pothia. Well, his acuity on the topic of the agriculture college is praise worthy keeping in mind the huge agriculture potential of the district.
As all of us know that the land in Kishanganj is fertile for flower, fruits, vegetables, horticulture and farming of spices. Moreover, Kishanganj is known for good quality tea production apart from pineapple and jute and the first district in Bihar to produce tea at large scale. Although neglected for decades this district deserve agriculture as well as a veterinary college. Nevertheless, agriculture research through tissue culture techniques and better seed quality production can qualitatively increase the income of farmers. It was heartening to see that the chief minister laid thrust on courses on poultry, fisheries and dairy for developing the region. There was also need for promoting sericulture in the area; he also stressed the need for promotion of agro-based industries.
It may be a co-incidence, soon after Nitish Kumar Kishanganj visit, telecom Mogul and Airtel owner Sunil Bharti Mittal has shown interest in setting up pineapple processing unit in the north-eastern district of Bihar. Nonetheless this can boost many small time and marginal farmers. This again re-iterates that Seemanchal is having immense business opportunities and can be a hot bed for agro-based industries.
Nursing college in the campus of MGM Medical College, Kishanganj was the other announcement which caught the attention of the general public. The situation of medical facilities in the region is very much crippled, lacking all the basic facilities and amenities, dearth of doctors, paramedics and nursing staff. Nursing college is the need of the hour for both health as well as academic purpose. Apart from creating job opportunities, this will certainly make girls independent and encourage parents to educate their girl child. Not to forget the female literacy is most awful in this region.
The most exciting recent proposal came from Rahmani Foundation, Munger, Bihar also famous for Rahmani-30 for IITs. They have announced that Rahmani Foundation will establish medical and engineering colleges in the Kishanganj for which they have identified the 285 acre land at Sheetalpur, Pothia block of Kishanganj district, which was initially offered to AMU for its Kishanganj campus by Mr. Afzal Hussain, the land owner. Being an optimist I am hopeful for the initiative taken by Rahmani Foundation. However, the question which is haunting me more is the controversy surrounding the land given on 999 years lease by Mr. Afzal Hussain. This will only unfold when Rahmani Foundation starts working in the proposed site for medical and engineering colleges. Nevertheless, it should not fall prey to cheap politics.
We can sense the deep anguish and resentment among the common masses for the delay in the proposed AMU Centre in Kishanganj which was the first announcement among these from the Centre as well as state Govt. The delay can be attributed to the woeful policies of Congress led UPA govt. which till now have claimed to be the champions of minority cause. The Central Govt. has tested the patience in all waters. Till now UPA has overlooked the sentiments and issues of minority’s welfare. This is the same UPA which asked Sachar committee to submit a report on the status of minorities in the country in 2005. Sachar committee in their report said that the condition of minorities is even worse than the SCs/STS. Based on Sachar committee report UPA promised five AMU Centers within the country but their intention is questionable now. All the euphoria surrounding the AMU centre Kishanganj seems to be settled now. It seems that all the politicians and stakeholders went to oblivion. Thanks to Human Chain society for keeping the agenda alive and their struggle is really appreciable keeping in mind the limited resources they have in their disposal.
We should not feel amazed if more such announcements come before 2014 elections. Politicians use such announcements as tools to hypnotize innocent people for getting vote. I can only say there are plenty of announcement or proposals but none of them in sight. Although am least interested in politics but would like to say the local politicians have forgotten their accountability too. Why they failed to remind the govt. about all such announcements on time? Why they roar only during elections and when they feel they will lose their chair? I seek all such answers from all the readers of this article and the common masses.
Mohammed Mumtaz Naiyer,
Postdoctoral Scientist,
Clinical and Experimental Sciences,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Southampton
Southampton General Hospital,
Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
