In 2012, Bihar, among the worst performing states in the country on all social indices, matched the national infant mortality rate of 44 per thousand births and actually bettered the national average in rural areas (45 per thousand against the all-India 48 per thousand). Bihar’s life expectancy is now 65.8 years, just short of the national 66.1. Bihar’s death rate is down to 6.7 per thousand peopl
e, against the all-India figure of 7.1. Each of these social transformations would have directly touched the lives of all. But neither the state’s transformed class narrative, the noticeably improved social order, nor even the significant infrastructural changes in Patna is dampening people's enthusiasm for casteist politics. We need to bring together the team which brought around the changes in Bihar. With BJP at helm in center, its imperative Bihar will gain the most if we have a government which can work in tandem.
