Inaugurating the Silver Jubilee International Conference of the Asian Development and Research Institute (ADRI) on ‘Bihar and Jharkhand: Shared History to Shared Vision’, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday advised the two States to invest in education as part of their development strategy.
“A logical requirement of alternative development strategy will be prioritising investment on education beyond what would happen under normal circumstances … one may also note here that education does not mean economic advantage for the educated persons alone,” the President said, addressing a gathering of academicians and scholars from several countries here.
Historical burden
The President said the strategy had other important advantages such as people’s empowerment and increased participation in development programmes and the political process. “Eastern region, of which Bihar and Jharkhand form a part, has been a victim of a historical burden which came first in the form of permanent settlement and then in the form of freight equalisation policy ... this led to the loss of the natural advantage of the region. As a result, the spirit of entrepreneurship could not develop among the people,” he said.
The conference was organised by the Patna-based Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI).
Citing Bangladesh, once a part of the Bengal Presidency, President Mukherjee said the burden of history, however huge, could be shed by social mobilisation. “The country, which has exploited its natural advantages to achieve grassroots development, shows the way for States like Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal,” he said. “The role of governments is crucial for socio-economic transformation but their efforts could be bolstered by an initiative from civil society,” he added.
Role of civil society
“In most of the developing nations, which attained independence in the middle of the previous century, the institution of state is considered to be very pervading with very limited space for non-state actors,” he said.
International development experience showed that in the absence of such non-state institutions, the efficiency of the state-led development process was limited.
Praising Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, President Mukherjee said: “the State has been lucky in having astute political leaders who have taken the State on the path of development.”
Earlier, the CM and Governor Ram Nath Kovind addressed the Conference.
