By Prabhash Dutta

Change has been the buzzword in Bihar ever since Nitish Kumar led NDA destroyed the bastion of Lalu Prasad Yadav in 2005, but unfortunately, it is the most elusive and most over-rated word in the state in real sense of term. Lalu Yadav lost the political battle largely owing to media and partly to the "awakened" people of Bihar, else, other equations of caste power and muscle power were in RJD leader's favour. But, for this political change, anything else is very hard to find for a change. Still the government officials are functioning in the same old "babudom" manner. The state secretariat in Patna bears the testimony to that and a visit to any of its departments would provide more than enough evidence of the crime, for which an emotionally patriotic judge would award capital punishment provided the law of the land allows so.

Just a week ago a newly recruited civil servant was asked to "deposit" Rs 5000 for a favourable posting, which the latest breed of new hope of Bihar happily deposited with the Bada Babu (equal to the rank of section officer). The civil servant, Prakash Mishra (name changed) puts it in a very candid way saying, "I was asked by an official of the state secretariat that if I pay Rs 5000, I would get a posting of my choice. When I paid the amount, I got a posting nearest to my native place." Not only this, Mishra gets a phone call almost everyday regarding the movement of the file. The office people, when inquired, confirmed the "deal" as a regular one and stressed that an official should be honest to his client. Even then, they, both the officials and the recruit, claimed that Bihar has changed!

Yes, it has. Some six years ago, a certain Rajendra Kumar Singh, working with the Revenue Department of the state, was asked to pay Rs 2000 for the same thing, which he had refused and is still waiting for a "favourable" posting as a consequence. Now, the money scale has changed from Rs 2000 to Rs 5000. Singh says, "With intrusion of new lifestyle, significance of money has increased and both the parties, venal officials and "client" consider it comfortable to pay a small sum like Rs 5000." But, Singh also added, "This attitude can not change the skin and flesh of Bihar. One can not expect an officer, who is paying bribe for his first posting, to work honestly, leave apart working efficiently."

Worst law and order was the real projected cause for the fall of Lalu's regime in Bihar and rise of the "last hope of Bihar" around two years ago. Things have changed now as people do not come on the roads and media does not run after Nitish Kumar's life after every abduction in the state, despite the fact that the official records show more than one hundred twenty abductions and kidnappings in the changed state.

Take a look on the condition of roads, all the three, city, state and national highways and one would prefer to say in exasperation, "Where Bihar starts, road ends". All the five roads of the state capital including lifeline roads, Ashok Rajpath, Frazer Road, Exhibition Road, are at best avoidable for the kind of filth, overflowing sewage, ditches and not to mention absence of traffic regulations. This year's flood has even exposed the myth of the much hyped national highways under the golden quadrilateral project. And, scenes of newly ravaged/ constructed roads are the common feature along these roads especially in Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, areas and also in non-flood prone areas of Saran, Sonepur and Vaishali.

Electricity brings joy on the faces of the "lantern habituated people" but it hardly lasts long enough to allow one to watch one bulletin of news. Education is the biggest victim of the so-called changed Bihar. Schools are running but for distribution of foodgrains to the students and for ensuring polio drop programme etc. Education is the last thing that is thought in the schools. Colleges have classes, students and a few teachers as well, but surprisingly quality of education has waned owing to extremely politicized environment in all the universities without any exception. Fellowship holders find it next to impossible to get the money sanctioned by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Whichever window of statecraft one wishes to peek through, the most evident thing is the rotten state of affairs with hardly any hope of improvement. This is definitely one change that the environs of Bihar has picked up, no one, however, knows from where. All other changes are just psychological perception of change.

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About the Author:

Prabhash Dutta is a correspondent for www.headlinesindia.com an upcoming news portal and media house based out of New Delhi, India.