Good news from south of the border, the dusty state of Bihar! The leading "povertarian"of India and his illiterate wife, Rabri Devi, are out of power. For 15 year this despicable, but clever politician held the poorest-of-the-poor state of India, the proverbial "anus mundi" in thrall...
Now it's over, and I hope the new governement will find enough papers to jail both of them for life. It's a good possibility because this buffoon of a man was clever only in dealing with other (corrupt) politicians, and thought himself "untouchable"...
As in "untouchable as Al Capone". not untouchable as low caste - actually the Yadavs are "high caste" and their arrogance and mistreatment of the lower castes and the wretched Muslims ironically brought this man to power. He painted himself as a "protector" of the Muslims and till now could count on their unwavering support. In no other state in the rather chaotic politics of India have some many murderers, convicted or just on years' long "bail" participated and regularly "won" elections!
It's another great testament to the power of Democracy that even these wretched, ignorant souls cast off the demagogy and saw through, at last...
For us, here uphill from the dusty plains, this could be a spell of hope. Once the lawless, goonda-conditions in Bihar are improoved, the plight of hapless Nepalis along the border, plagued by dacoit raids wil lighten too. The RNA unfortunately has other "fish to fry" and cannot patrol the border as much as it should.
UPDATE 2005-11-23 17:07:
Indian Express brings some numbers to illustrate the ENORMITY of Laloo's legacy:
? A seventh of India?s population below the poverty line. Rural poverty is as high as 41%.
? 89% of BPL (below poverty line) families do not receive ration benefits
? 3.50% of households without food sufficiency (national figure: 2.3%)
? Lowest literacy level 48%?compared to national average of 65%.
? Primary enrollment rate for 2000: 52% compared to 77% nationally. Only state where primary enrollment fell in the 90s.
? Number of schools per million: 629 (national: 1,036).
? Indicators for women worse than men? 14% fewer enrollments for women and a literacy gap of 26%
? Only 10% children fully immunised.
? Maternal mortality rate: 707 per 100,000 women die within 6 months of giving birth. National average of 404.
? Only 7.9% of homes have latrines (national: 18%)
? Lowest utilization rate for Centrally funded programmes? it forfeited one-fifth of central plan assistance between1997 and 2000.
? Its spending on health, water and sanitation has actually come down in the last 3 yrs: from 6.5% to 5.49% of the total public expenditure.
? There is a link with poverty and slow economic growth? It has averaged to less than 4% by 2002. The first casualty is critical public services.
That this swindler and criminal could become Union Minister for Railways in Sonia Gandhi's/Man Mohan Singh's gvt. is absurd! Only in India... not even in Nepal!
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