Q.) What are the main constraints in the Rapid economic development of Bihar? How can these constraints be removed?

Ans– Economic backwardness is a manifestation of various things like poverty, law, manufacturing activities, utilizing potential resources, economic development, etc. In case Bihar state is grouped under HDI performance but the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar changed the fate of the state at a rapid pace.

Bihar has gone through a wonderful circle back in financial execution during the 2000s. Great arrangements, better framework, administration, social assurance, and more noteworthy political steadiness have all added to this improvement. However, Bihar remains India’s least fortunate state: from 2008-to 16 its per capita pay was a fifth of Haryana’s and pretty much 33% of India’s. Bihar lost the majority of its mineral assets in 2000 when Jharkhand was made, yet it held its rich farming area and water assets.

The current economic status of Bihar–

1. The growth rate of the state’s GDP is around 15% at the nominal price.
2. The sector-wise proportion of GSDP–
   Agriculture- 21%
   Industries-19%
   Services-65%
3. The per capita income of the state is the lowest among all large states in India.
4. Women’s participation in the labor force is comparatively low in rural areas (3.2% only).

The current pickup of economic pace has various constraints some of which can be discussed below.

Constraints in Rapid economic development–

1. Historical
2. Social
3. Economic
4. Political
5. Administrative
6. Environmental

Historical constraints–

1. British Legacy of Administrative corruption and imbalance of regional preferences.
2. Equitable trade policy of the government of India after independence i.e. use of resources of Bihar to develop other states.

Social constraints–

1. Unfortunate accessibility of social help.
   – Only one doctor per PHC which is the lowest in India.
   – most of the doctors in urban areas like Patna, Darbhanga, Gaya, and Muzaffarpur while 86% of the population live in rural areas.
2. Human resources but–
   – Skill gap
   – lack of economic opportunities
   – migration to other cities
3. Comparatively low in the education of women–
   – Women are 20% less literate in Bihar.
   – The ratio is even disturbing in the case of eastern Bihar and the tribal population.
   – poor school infrastructure and teacher skilling.

Economic constraints–

1. Backwardness in manufacturing. (Only 19% of GSDP).
2. Inequitable growth.
3. Migration of skilled and semi-skilled workforce to other developed states like Delhi Maharashtra Gujarat etc.
4. lack of focus on agriculture-based industries.
5. Technological constraints to exploit mineral resources of Southern Bihar i.e., pyrite, building materials, mica, etc. Political constraints–
6. The caste-based policy excludes the disciplined and vulnerable from the mainstream.
7. Political criminalization. (2020 status Emily elections around 43% elected members to have criminal records, according to ADR)
8. Poor women participate in the political arena. Administrative constraints–
9. According to Transparency International, the main problem in Bihar is administrative corruption.
10. Bureaucratic empathy to support marginals.
11. Other crucial issues like– lack of maintenance of Assets and lapsing of unused funds.
12. Bureaucrats involved in politics. Environmental constraints–
13. Poor availability of drinking water.
14. Droughts and floods are most prone in South Bihar.
15. Poor management of natural resources i.e. dying wetlands, poor forest cover, river shifting disasters.

But recent growth of Bihar is not behind the scenes. It is one of the fastest-growing by overcoming its constants through various National and state schemes, also with help of international organizations and NGOs.

Schemes for Bihar upliftment–

1. 7 Nischaya– focuses on skill development, tap connection, women’s employment, and electricity to all.
2. e-PDS to provide the right to food to the vulnerable.
3. in agriculture– subsidies over seeds (Bihar agricultural roadmap 2017-22)
4. Prioritizing certain sectors i.e., FPI, wood industry, sugarcane, and vegetables.
5. Infrastructure support– Road connectivity and accessible urban transport, etc.

Developing Bihar to make its citizens self-reliant i.e., Aatmnirbhar the fundamental right, and the state is very enthusiastically progressing towards its direction. The state also needs an independent Commission to analyze growth in real-time to make politics more efficient and inclusive.