Bihar woman gives an autorickshaw ride to Dutch ambassador in state capital

The members of a delegation from the Netherlands led by its Ambassador to India Alhonsus Stoelinga on Tuesday took ride in autorickshaw driven by women in the state capital in Patna to take firsthand account of the Nitish Kumar government's performance for empowerment of women in Bihar.

Stoelinga, accompanied by Bihar Transport Minister Brishen Patel, were driven by a woman autorickshaw driver from the Information Department building premises up to Raj Bhawan showcasing JD(U) government's sincere endeavour towards empowerment of fair gender in Bihar. Other members of the Dutch delegation were driven by other women drivers in separate autorickshaws up to Raj Bhawan.

The Dutch Ambassador and other members of his delegation effusively lauded the state government's efforts to empower women and encourage them to take self-employment by working as the autorickshaw drivers for livelihood. Prior to the joy ride on autorickshaws driven by women drivers, Stoelinga-led Dutch delegation participated in a high-powered meeting with the Transport officials where they discussed road safety management in Bihar.

The Transport minister apprised the delegation about slew of measures taken by the state government in the field of road transport facility and road safety management as part of broad intervention in transport sector.

"It has been due to improvement in the road transport facility and implementation of road safety measures that the number of road accidents and fatalities has come down in Bihar since 2011 before which the trend had shown increase over the years," he told the delegates.

Patel said the state government has worked on four themes - all beginning with the letter E - like education, enforcement, engineering and emergency care, as part of the road safety measures to ensure reduction of accidents and improve traffic on roads in the state capital and elsewhere in Bihar.

The Dutch delegates also held another interactive meeting with the Agriculture Production Commissioner Jairam Lal Meena where they were apprised of traditional farming methods and measures being taken by the state government under the agriculture road map to improve income of farmers.