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Time seems to have stood still in Bihar, and it is the children
who are the casualties: 3.8 million in the age group6 to 14 years remain out of
school, 59 percent of boys drop out before class 5 for economic reasons, and 8 out
of 10 girls do not complete primary school. Fifty-three percent of the population
is below the poverty line, and 54 percent of the children are malnourished. Children
from Bihar and Jharkhand make up the largest number of runaways, 30 percent of slum
dwellers in Delhi are from Bihar, and every eighth illiterate woman lives in Bihar.
Given this background and realizing the need to engage much more in Bihar, revive
it, and help in the process of recovery, CII embarked on a Bihar Development Initiative
in the beginning of 2004, focusing on education.
Bihar Development Initiative
The Bihar Development Initiative (BDI), a program of CII, which, realizing the need
to engage industry in a unique Build Bihar campaign, aims to directly intervene
in more active development in Bihar while reviving and helping in the process of
social and economic development by evolving a platform for cooperation by the vastly
successful and talented Bihari Diaspora. CII is associated through BDI with initiating,
coordinating, and assisting volunteer efforts for progress in state social and development
parameters.
The concept of BDI was introduced on August 27, 2004, at a meeting with people from
Bihar based in Delhi, inviting participation in this social initiative. The response
was tremendous, and most of the participants were eager to contribute to their home
state.
At the meeting, some fields of intervention were identified and participants indicated
their areas of interest. Groups were set up for education, crafts, health, and rural
development and agriculture. Since then, many further meetings of the smaller groups
have been held and strategies are being evolved.
Vision
Commitment to the cause of a developed Bihar, which will offer all its people opportunity
and growth.
Mission
To bring together all the well-wishers and garner all the resources which will help
and make Bihar a vibrant as well as a successful state.
Strategy
BDI's primary strategy is to build a positive perception of the state while working
concurrently at the micro level in education, health, crafts, and rural development
and agriculture.
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