One of India’s most backward regions Kosi also referred as Seemanchal comprised of eight districts namely, Araria, Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Supaul, Madepura (all in Bihar) and Uttar Dinajpur (West Bengal). Even 65 years after independence this area is far behind in the development race in comparison to other parts of India. Thanks to the neglected attitude of state and Centre government and their step-motherly treatment with Kosi. There are many reasons behind the dismal condition of Kosi but the region has yet to get a leader who can standup and raise the voice on behalf of 2 crore people.
Now it seems the Kosi region has got a new reformer (voice-raiser) in the form of Ahmad Ashfaque Karim, the Chairman of Katihar Medical College (KMC) and leader of Lok Janashakti Party (LJP), accompanied by iconic youth leader of Balrmpur constituency Aadil Hassan Azad. Taking a dig into the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s much hyped ‘Adhikar Yatra’, Karim, the founder and convenor of Kosi Bedari Morcha (KBM) had organised a people awareness programme named as Kosi Bedari Sammelan (Kosi Awareness Conference) at Barsoi in Katihar. The awareness programme led by Karim was joined Aadil Hassan Azad, former LJP candidate from Balrampur assembly constituency, Naresh Yadav, ex member of Parliament and political leaders from different political parties, party workers and social activists.
Addressing the huge gathering at Barsoi Karim said, ‘it would not be wrong to refer the Kosi area as ‘Kala Pani’ since the people have been completed neglected by ruling governments and policy makers. The Kosi region has not witnessed any major development since the country’s independence in 1947. In almost every field from education to employment, basic medical facilities to nutritious meals, this region of Bihar is legging behind from rest of the country. On the other hand the natural calamities like heavy floods, famine, etc. are adding woes to the people of the area, said Karim.
Karim who has contributed a lot in the field of education for this area went heavily against the state and Centre governments for making the common people fool and keeping them illiterate and deprived of basic necessities. The chairman of Katihar Medical College emphasized on the importance of education and urged the people to raise their voice for their basic rights. Karim had slammed the educational policies Bihar government and highlighted its loopholes. Enough is enough; Kosi region badly needs the ‘Special Status’ from Bihar government and Centre as well in order to match the developing India. On behalf of Kosi Bedari Morcha I demand for providing special status to Kosi region with Purnia as its main hub, where special session of Assembly should also be conducted, told the LJP leader.
Lok Janashakti Party’s youth leader Aadil Hassan Azad who is also a lawyer by procession demanded for establishment of Central University, government funded hospital cum medical college, engineering college, polytechnic colleges in Kosi (Seemanchal) area in addition to girls school and Kendriya Vidyalaya at Balrampur. Azad also demanded for setting up High Court bench in Purnia along with other demands like relaxation in Kisan Loan, reservation for Surjapuri, Scheduled Caste status for polia and desia (Rajvanshi society), providing the block status to Abadpur (katihar) and setting up of rail factory in Katihar.
Kosi Awareness Conference is a good initiative from Karim and Azad under the banner of KAM, and it has been launched at the right time when the national media is following Nitish Kumar’s ambitious ‘Adhikar Yatra’, which demands for providing ‘Special Status’ to Bihar. The awareness programme launched by Karim and Azad can be praised and it demands for upliftment of the common people residing in the Kosi belt. However, the list of demands is too long and it would be too early to predict anything as the governments both in state and Centre are least bothered about the Seemanchal belt.
It would be interesting to see whether the Nitish led NDA government is fulfilling the demands or not. Need of the hour is that the issues raised by Karim and Azad should not be given a political colour. The issues are genuine and the Seemanchal region needs urgent attention as the crores of people in this area are still waiting for the day when they find themselves prosperous in proper way. If some of the demands raised by Kosi Bedari Sammelan are fulfilled it would be a new dawn for Seemanchal region.
