It would seem so, as confirmed by the latest NSSO report on various indices including economic, education, material well-being and health.
In all parts of Bihar, especially in the Muslim concentration areas of Seemanchal, Muslim community has scored lower than the General category in almost all the indices. The community continues to suffer from state neglect, with very little attention or investment made to uplift the community that comprises almost 14.6% of the total population of Bihar.
It is extremely unfortunate that poll-after-poll, all parties have grandly brandished their Muslim candidates as a sign of their inclusive approach towards the community, but ground realty proves that once the polls are over, the community continues to remain very low on the development and investment priority of the ruling government in the state.
Every government that has ruled Bihar since Independence has tried to show statistical data to prove how much Bihar has improved over the previous regime. From BJP-led Nitish Kumar government to Nitish Kumar’s rule without BJP, Bihar has been overwhelmed with claims of development and economic progress. While that may be true, or at least partly, the fact remains that very little of that development has percolated down to the
Muslim community who continue to live an abysmal quality of life.
The regime under Lalu Prasad’s rule performed even worse. But what is ironical is that each party and alliance has consistently used the community to get into power but once there, the community has remained low on priority of the government.
The blame for this must also be shared by various Muslim leaders who have been guilty of not doing much for their own constituencies after being elected. Will these polls be any different? It’s time for all parties to agree that while OBC, EBC, SC & ST categories all warrant attention and investment, leaving behind 14.6% of the population will not help Bihar’s cause. Its time political parties agree that time for change has come and that Bihar must develop but with all communities together.
It would seem so, as confirmed by the latest NSSO report on various indices including economic, education, material well-being and health.
In all parts of Bihar, especially in the Muslim concentration areas of Seemanchal, Muslim community has scored lower than the General category in almost all the indices. The community continues to suffer from state neglect, with very little attention or investment made to uplift the community that comprises almost 14.6% of the total population of Bihar.
It is extremely unfortunate that poll-after-poll, all parties have grandly brandished their Muslim candidates as a sign of their inclusive approach towards the community, but ground realty proves that once the polls are over, the community continues to remain very low on the development and investment priority of the ruling government in the state.
Every government that has ruled Bihar since Independence has tried to show statistical data to prove how much Bihar has improved over the previous regime. From BJP-led Nitish Kumar government to Nitish Kumar’s rule without BJP, Bihar has been overwhelmed with claims of development and economic progress. While that may be true, or at least partly, the fact remains that very little of that development has percolated down to the
Muslim community who continue to live an abysmal quality of life.
The regime under Lalu Prasad’s rule performed even worse. But what is ironical is that each party and alliance has consistently used the community to get into power but once there, the community has remained low on priority of the government.
The blame for this must also be shared by various Muslim leaders who have been guilty of not doing much for their own constituencies after being elected. Will these polls be any different? It’s time for all parties to agree that while OBC, EBC, SC & ST categories all warrant attention and investment, leaving behind 14.6% of the population will not help Bihar’s cause. Its time political parties agree that time for change has come and that Bihar must develop but with all communities together.
