Railway Budget 2013 - Did Bihar gain ?

Reaction to the Rail Budget

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar called it disappointing.  He accused the UPA II government of “lacking courage” and resorting to “cleverness” by increasing fares in the month of January itself and not announcing any hike in the Budget presented in Parliament on Tuesday.

“On the one hand the government is claiming it did not raise fare but on the other hand other charges of tatkal and cancellation etc have been increased which will adversely hit the passengers,” he said. 
“No new train has been given to Bihar despite the fact that it has maximum number of train travellers in the country. Besides, fund for past projects like rail bridge over Ganga at Patna and Munger has also not been allocated,” he said. 
Taking a potshot at the current railway minister for announcing search of new technology to stop collision of trains, Kumar sought to know why anti-collision devices developed by the Konkan Railways, which he had introduced during his time in NF Railways and which yielded good results, was stopped. 

Kumar also criticised the announcement of new projects without making proper arrangements for gathering funds and taking other clearances. “The NDA government had stopped this practise (announcing projects without required clearances) but its been resumed again now, which is unfortunate,” he added.

Bihar has not much share in the Union Railway Budget 2013 compared to other states despite being the largest Revenue Generating State for Indian Railways. Here are the highlights of what Budget had in for Bihar.

New Trains for Bihar

•  Katihar – Howrah Express (Weekly) Via Malda Town
• Kolkata – Sitamarhi Express (Weekly) Via Jhajha, Barauni, Darbhanga
•  Patna – Sasaram Intercity Express (Daily) Via Ara
• Patliputra (Patna) – Bangalore Express (Weekly) Via Chheoki
•  Rajendra Nagar Terminus (Patna)- New Tinsukia Express (Weekly) Via Katihar, Guwahati

Bihar Enters the Fast Lane

Bihar has long been known as one of India’s most impoverished states, but now it can boast of being one of its fastest growing.
 Local government figures show the eastern Indian state’s gross domestic product grew at an annual average of almost 12% over the five years to March 2012, far above the national average of 7.9% in the same period. Planning Commission data show only the northeastern state of Sikkim grew at a faster rate.
Of course, it’s easier to grow fast from a lower base. Bihar is hardly in the same league as the western state of Gujarat, widely perceived as a model of development, which recorded 9.6% growth over the five year period.
 Bihar, with a population of roughly 104 million, has become synonymous with poverty, low levels of literacy, corruption, rickety infrastructure and unemployment. People from the state have historically sought jobs in nearby states like West Bengal and Assam, but also further afield in Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Delhi.
The average income level within Bihar is among the lowest in India, at 25,653 rupees ($474) per person in the year ended March 2012, less than half the national average of 60,972 rupees. Most people in the state live in villages, surviving below the poverty line of 781 rupees a month, national Planning Commission figures show.
In its survey, which was released Tuesday, the state government said the latest figures point to the “revival of a stagnant economy.”
New growth drivers include manufacturing and hotels and restaurants.  Bihar was among the top 10 Indian states attracting foreign travelers in 2011, with 972,487 overseas tourists, a jump of nearly 53% from 2010, according to India’s tourism ministry. Many visitors are religious tourists who come to see Bodhgaya, the place where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Nalanda, regarded as a center of Buddhist learning, is another popular destination.
In a report late last year, the planning commission forecast Bihar’s GDP to expand at an average of 9.1% over the five years to March 2017.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in office since 2005, is credited with helping the turnaround. Political analysts say Mr. Kumar, head of the Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition in the state, may emerge as a consensus prime ministerial candidate in national elections, due before May 2014. But that is likely only if frontrunner Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat, declines to race and the BJP agrees to a candidate who isn’t a party member.
“Both are riding the development plank and nothing can be ruled out in politics,” said Narendra Kumar, a political science professor at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.

With Permission from
http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/02/21/bihar-enters-the-fast-lane

Aamir Khan's visit to Maner Sweets -Maner

Before,,,

What happens when business is normal and somehow people are just managing to work in the blazing heat mid day when temperatures soar more than 41 degress,,

Business was normal at Maner sweets, Maner when the Local Police Station (Maner Thana) informed about Aamir Khan’s visit to Maner.

The Manager on duty quickly informed Manish (business partner of Maner sweets) about his arrival.

Manish was taken by surprise and called the Police station again. Is it a rumor or is he actually coming. Talks within Maner began to spread around – why would Aamir Khan come to Bihar and to visit Maner.

Aamir Khan arriving at Maner

Well, as the discussions’ were going – the entire team of Maner Sweets geared up for his preparations. Everyone seemed to get that energy boost and started to working,,,questions did arise – what would he like, is he going to have lunch, probably it’s too much heat here, he would prefer to have a chilled Lassi. One of the employees who has media contacts in Maner – started to get about his arrival in Maner. I guess now, everyone was confirmed about his arrival.

It took about an hour 3:15 PM to get all the arrangements done. Red carpet for his welcome, about 150 kilos of fresh preparations of Maner ka Laddoo and other local delicacies,,,

Around 3:15Pm – the road was blocked, news spread like fire, more than 3000 people had gathered at the vicinity of Maner Sweets, Maner. My gosh – it was a sight to witness,,,not a single vehicle moving on the National Highway,,,

Once Aamir arrived,,,

3:20 Pm – the entire cavalry of Aamir Khan arrived at Maner Sweets. One could not spot Aamir Khan in the crowd as media had already arrived for his interview and what he plans to do in Maner. Just at the entrance-Manish was waiting for him,,, Yes, it was red carpet welcome nothing less than the Cannes (I guess so),,Aamir Khan was smiling as ever,,Aamir asked - haan bhai - where is "Maner ka Laddoo",,,he was offered one, he liked it and he had a few more,,,

Aamir Khan and Manish - at Maner Sweets, Maner

In the meantime Manish was busy explaining the history of "Maner ka Laddoo" how it started from Maner, what all it takes for the preparation, how it became popular,,why is it so famous,,,,in this entire episode of discussion - the media was busy clicking pictures and recording their story,,,

Someone in the media had asked - why not a visit to Maner dargah and offer a chadar - he quickly replied - jab bulawa aayenga to jayunga,,,

As Aamir Khan was off to Varanasi to attend a friends' wedding (approx. 210 kms) 6 hours drive,,he was gifted a bag of "Maner ka Laddoo" for his friends and Bollywood. He soon left from Maner to Varanasi,,,

we had dozen phone calls pouring later - did Aamir come to your shop,,what all did he have,,,how was it like meeting him,,,,etc

Thanks Aamir ,,,

https://picasaweb.google.com/kkrajiv/AamirKhansVisitToManerManerKaLaddooAtManerSweets?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Yumm, this is delicious

Health Check Up - Sukhdev Sao Trust

04th August will always be remembered in Maner and Maner Sweets 
- the Pioneer who built the brand - "Maner Ka Laddoo"

As a business group - this will be our first time in Maner where we will be working together and holding an event for the society.

Health Check up for - Eye, Asthma, BP, Thyroid, & Sugar.

This initiative is taken by the Sukhdev Sao Trust with support of GD Eye memorial & Abbot Laboratories.

Area to be covered : Maner, Maner basti, Goriyasthan, Mohanpur
Total population area ; Approx 1,20,000

Doctors will cover
1. Eye - 400 patients
2. BP: 200 patients
3. Sugar: 200 patients
4. Asthma:100 patients
5. Thyroid:100 patients

Details;.
1. Patients will not be charged - Free of Cost.
2. A sum of Rs.20 per registration will be borne by the Trust (Sukhdev Sao Trust)
3. Registrations will be done 1 day earlier to avoid chaos (3rd Aug,2011)
4. Preliminary examination will be done for actual patients to be checked
5. Database to be maintained by Doctors for future reference & more camps to be put up by the trust.

Our Plan
03rd August.
1. Registration will be done on the Maner Sweets (Maner) parking area.
2. 6/7 banners will be installed at major locations for public notice.
3. Pamphlets distributed by various agencies, Mukhiya's and retail outlets of Maner Sweets
4. Notice & advertisement to come in local newspaper for the event.
5. Government Hospital has been notified of the event - awareness campaign.

04th August.
1. Camp will open for check up at 9am to 4 PM
2. Total Nos. of Patients to be covered - 1000 patients

About GD Eye Memorial

GD Eye Memorial : known in Patna for Crown Opticals. Dr Rajiv who has worked extensively in US &Asia Pacific region with various NGO"s finally decided to come back and work start his own business. With the help of other known doctors - they started the GD eye memorial where they have successfully had camps in PMCH and other villages in Patna.

Sukhdev Sao - The pioneer of Maner Sweets -Maner Ka Laddoo

As i am fairly new to the business and environment in Bihar - just been 6 months - i am trying to get in practice all the gyan and studies i had done in my MBA.
One of the most important was CSR - your contribution as an individual/business towards the society.

Being in the family business - i have been studying on what my father and grandfather had done in the past for a social cause. Nothing has been recorded or written on the net - as i guess - internet did not exist in the 60/70 's - but when i hear stories from villagers and customers at Maner Sweet shop - i really get to understand the CSR.

Grandfather (Sukhdev Sao)
I am very lucky to hear the stories from my grandmother on how Maner Sweets was built. When i actually sit down and calculate - as to how did 1 single person in all these years - built a powerful brand and "Maner Ka Laddoo" being so much popular in India. 
From my granny stories - my grandfather and grandmother were the pioneers to make the "Maner Ka Laddoo" popular. During the British Raj - my grandfather used to work as a vendor for a small sweet shop. One the generals on usual routine stopped at the road side dhaba for snacks. He eventually was delighted to have the sweet called - Maner ka Laddoo. The British general was so impressed by the sweet that he called this as "Nukti ka Laddoo" meaning - every grain of the laddoo is as sweet as it is. He hired one of the servants to work with his unit and make this precious delicacy. My grandfather got hooked to this idea and that's how the seed was born for - Maner Ka Laddoo.
My grandfather started from scratch when he was 23 years old. He used to take a tin box of laddoos' and traveled almost 45 kms. to sell sweets. He used to work at night with grand mother to work on the preparation for the sweets and sell during the day. It took him almost 5/6 years to establish himself and finally rented a shop on the main road. He hired more staff to generate more production of laddoo's and sell to local villages. The shop on the main road soon started to generate enough income as he venture out in other areas of business - wines, cement, wood and agriculture.
His dream and vision was - Maner Sweets should be build as a brand to sell "Maner ka Laddoo".
As an ambitious businessman - he built a huge building in Maner - what he termed it as - it should be high enough that people look and stare and say - this belongs to "Sukhdev Sao" ,,,if you have actually visited Maner - you will get to know how big is this building. In fact - it is one of the highest in the town (5 stories)

Manjil laha
A fairly new term for many who would read this - if someone dies in a village, in support & respect for the person who passed away - all the local people, villagers and relatives will go for the manzil. (the last rights to the ghats)
Maner - is very close to the ghats - the river Sone (a tributary of the Ganges). Many people prefer to visit the ghats at Hardi Chapra for the last rituals of a person. For many - it was difficult to travel as roads did not exist, buying wood from the main road was much more difficult. It was actually a chaos during those times if someone had to perform a ritual.
 My grandfather was kind enough to set a stop shop where one could buy the havan samagri, wood, cloth and set for the ghats. But another problem occurred - in any Manjilaha - there were more than 100-150 people who would go for the last rituals - fasting for the entire day - they had to be fed on the way back home. Maner - did not have such a big place to feed the Manzils.
He created a hall cum dining area in the Maner Sweets facility - where manzils would be accommodated an provided food with lodging. This could be one of the best CSR's that any one could think. Feeding a manzil for dinner at 2pm in the night during the 70/80's was a big task.
The tradition continues in Maner Sweets - and as 3rd generation entrepreneurs - we help the poor and the Manzils for food. Even if we get a manzil at 10 in the night - we serve & help them.

Cinepolis - The Patna experience

When i finally woke up this morning - i saw a small gathering of people discussing with my mom - her experience of watchin a movie Cinepolis in Patna.
Wow - it's the same what she had watched movies in New Delhi / Bangalore / New York.

Fortunately, i have watched some movies with my family in Cinepolis Bangalore.

As usual, i was working at my retail outlet in Bihta - when in finally got to hear from my friend that Cinepolis had opened in Patna. While i browsed - i

eventually got to the website - where i registered and started to look for the latest movies. Well - since this was the first time to visit the P&M Mall - we decided to go as a family to watch the late night movie.
I booked the late night show for "Singham".
We drove from Maner (35 mnts drive to the city) to Cinepolis at night.

The mall looked great at night - the interiors were superb and i m sure Patnaites will love it. What caught my attention - was the food plazas - the Mughal Darbar, Dilli Darbar, Domino's - all catchin great attention to customers.

Cinepolis Experience : the movie started late. "Singham" is an ok movie - nothing great. As everything looked new in the cinema hall - people were taking note of all the interiors done. Sound system & seats were good. Staff cordial.
I hope the Cinepolis Management keep up the great work they have done.
Looking forward to catch up on some more movies.