Timing, relevance of restructuring not appropriate: Bihar CM

He demanded that a meeting of the National Development Council be called to consult the states meaningfully and take a holistic view on the issue and noted as a think tank, the proposed institution should have the capabilities to support the ministries and states with knowledge of innovations and best practices of the world.
  
Manjhi, who heads a Janta Dal-United government in the state supported by Congress and RJD, said, "The manner in which this meeting has been convened, its agenda and format, is pointing to the fact that you have already made up your mind on the subject and the states are here, merely to put their stamp on it".
  
Participating in the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Ministers on the issue of renaming and restructuring the plan panel, he said that the speech of the Prime Minister on Independence Day about re-thinking on the Planning Commission has given rise to the public perception that the government has decided to give a 'go-bye to the process of planning' in this country and that the growth and development in this country will be led by the market forces and the capitalists.
  
"I would request the Prime Minister to take no decision in haste without due diligence and deliberation. The meeting of the National Development Council should be convened to discuss the matter and take a holistic view on the same. If states are to be consulted meaningfully then the proposed structure and modalities should be duly circulated for firming up of their view on the matter. Final view should be taken after considering the observations of all stakeholders," Manjhi said .
  
He said that though the Prime Minister has talked about strengthening the federal structure and increased, active participation of the states in the formulation of national policies as equal partners and in their effective implementation, nothing substantial has been done to confirm these views.
  
"I am of the view that to deliberate on this important issue, the appropriate forum would have been the National Development Council. Furthermore it would have been more fruitful and productive if the alternative structure and modalities that are being proposed could have been circulated beforehand to the states, so that they could have firmed up their views on the issue," he added.

Source: Chhattisgarh Hindi News and MP Hindi News

NHRC issues notice to UP government over bonded labourers

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report citing the rescue of these bonded labourers from Sinhar village in the state. The labourers, all from Bihar, were found in the brick kiln on December 2.

The kiln owner did not pay the minimum wages to them, it was found during a raid by labour department officials, a communique from the NHRC said on Friday. It quoted Additional Labour Commissioner Pankaj Singh Rana as saying that the number of labourers could be more.

The NHRC has sought a response from the state government within a fortnight, detailing the number of labourers rescued and the monetary relief and rehabilitation provided to them.

Source: Chhattisgarh Hindi News and MP Hindi News

Bihar slumps on development indices: Sushil Modi

Development has been the biggest casualty in Bihar since the JD(U) terminated alliance with the BJP last year with the state slipping down by at least ten notches on various indices, he said in a statement.

Eye catching slogans like integrated development and good governance has become passe at a time when Bihar finds itself gripped by political instability with the JD(U) compelled to indulge in manipulation to ensure survival of its government by conveniently taking away focus from governance matters, the BJP leader said.
  
Quoting extensively from a media report compiled by two leading economists to rank top 20 states on different indices of development, Modi, a senior BJP leader in Bihar, said that Bihar has been ranked at 20th position on the basis of its performance on various indices in 2013-14 as against corresponding ranking of eleventh when his party was integral part of the erstwhile NDA government.
  
Bihar regrettably figures between 16th and 20th position of indices like agriculture, infrastructure, economy, investment, health, education, governance and consumer market, etc, as per the data compiled for 2013-14, he said.
  
The other indices like production of foodgrain, student-teacher ratio in schools, per capita expenditure and debt, child mortality rate, per capita deposit in banks, irrigable farmland, etc, also figured during ranking of the states, Modi, who held the post of deputy chief minister and finance minister in the erstwhile NDA government for eight years, said.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News

Some Muslims too celebrate Chhath in Bihar

"We have been celebrating Chhath for 34 years and will celebrate it till we breath our last," said Manjoor, in his 50's, from Lala Tola of Sitab Diara, the village of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan.

Manjoor, a drum beater, goes to river banks with his 'dug-dugi' during the festival.

Nazma, from Mohanpur Haat in Vaishali district, takes part in rituals -- like millions of Hindu women.

"I am not alone. There are dozens of Muslim women like me in nearby villages who celebrate Chhath," said Nazma, in her late 40s.

Muslim women in parts of Bihar have been celebrating Chhath for years, ignoring criticism from hardliners in their community.

It is a matter of faith, say the women, who pray to the sun "like our Hindu counterparts".

Ladli Begum of a village in Samastipur district has celebrated Chhath for eight years. "It has brought good luck to my family. I am happy to observe fast and offer prayers to the sun," she said.

Ladli got attracted after her 10-year-old son fell ill and his condition became serious.

"An elderly neighbour suggested to perform Chhath. It worked like a miracle. My son's health improved and gradually he recovered fully," she said.

Mallika Bano, a resident of Shukla Road in Muzaffarpur, has observed Chhath for 25 long years -- and for good reason.

"My wish to have a son was fulfilled after I performed Chhath (years earlier)," she said.

Hindus see in these Muslims a show of communal harmony.

"It is a rare show of brotherhood as it promotes tolerance and peace," said Kanchan Bala, a woman activist.

The four-day Chhath festival comes after Diwali. It began on Monday when devotees across the state bathed in a ritual called 'Nahai Khai' followed by Kharna on Tuesday night.

Offerings of wheat, milk, sugarcane, bananas and coconuts are made to the sun god.

The festival will conclude on Thursday morning.

Hasan Imam, in his late 40s, a theatre activist from Begusarai district, said his family has performed Chhath for decades.

"There are several Muslim families in Begusarai and the neighbouring districts of Vaishali, Samastipur, Khagaria and Muzaffarpur who celebrate the festival," he said.

In Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, many Muslims have volunteered to clean up the banks of rivers, ponds and other water bodies and streets for the festival. Some Muslims distributed fruits and new clothes to impoverished Hindu families on the occasion.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News