Governance Now forum ‘Bihar on the move’  was held in Delhi on August 21.

Eminent journalist and author M J Akbar gave the opening address at the event.

Akbar shared his ideas on how good governance has changed Bihar in recent years. He said that Bihar, the template of good governance in the 1950s, had degenerated into the laughing stock for the country by the late 1990s and was now emerging from years of misrule.

“Bihar is emerging from its joke reputation and is starting to show promise as a serious player in the growth of the country,” he said.

The highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

The chief minister explained to the audience how the paradigm of lawlessness in Bihar was giving way to one of development under his administration.

“Criminals are being caught, produced in court and sentenced, whereas under earlier governments, they enjoyed political patronage. Earlier, the government witnesses didn’t appear in the court. The prosecution, therefore, sought adjournment time and again. After we came to power we ensured that the prosecution witnesses were present in the court. As a result the trials were wrapped up in time and today we have a record number of convictions,” said Kumar.

The day's discussions had been divided into three sessions ‘Branded Bihar to brand Bihar’, ‘What Bihar needs next’ and ‘What Bihar needs most’.