Patna. August 5. Development can be engendered only when you integrate knowledge into the system and Bihar’s dramatic transformation over the last twenty years is a testimony to this fact. Hon’ble Rural Works Minister of Bihar, Shree Ashok Chaudhary enunciated this view while delivering the Key Note Address of an event titled “Socio-Economic Transformation of Bihar in the Last Two Decades” to mark 25 years of Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), which is run by the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) today. JSS has been skilling marginalized communities in the non-formal education sector for the last two decades.

Citing a slew of facts and figures, he said that 46 percent of Bihar’s population was below the poverty line when Nitish Kumar took over the reins. That figure has dropped to 16 percent today. The size of the state budget has grown from an anaemic Rs. 24 thousand crores to an impressive Rs. 3 lakhs 18 thousand crores. Monthly per-capita income has jumped to Rs. 66 thousand now from a miserly Rs. 7,000. The state of women has undergone a sea change for the better by measures like reservation for women in jobs. Riots and Naxal disturbances have become a thing of the past.

The Member-Secretary of ADRI, Dr. Ashmita Gupta gave an overview of how ADRI’s research work is in synchronicity with the development priorities of Bihar. She stated that ADRI has been working at the inter-section of high-impact research and policy implementation. It has become a global laboratory of world-class researchers. She reported that the most notable research work being done currently by ADRI is that of geo-mapping of approximately 20,000 private healthcare units in Bihar.

The Honorable Minister was felicitated by Shri Dilip Sinha, the Chairman of ADRI; Dr. Niraj Prakash and Dr. Sunita Lall, also of ADRI. Shri Sinha hoped that ADRI will continue to be able to assist Bihar in its socio-economic development, more so in collaboration with the Rural Development Department.

Also present on the occasion were Dr. Sanchita Mahapatra and Dr. Suraj Shankar of CHP-ADRI. The Honorable Minister also distributed certificates to the trainees of JSS. Dr. Sandip Kumar, Director of JSS delivered the Vote of Thanks.