Just before going into Christmas and New Year holidays last year, Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary visited Auckland as part of his study tour to New Zealand from December 23 to 26.
The study tour organised during the Christmas holiday period was a part of an official tour to study skilled development, culture, environment, and New Zealand’s law and order.
Bihar is the 13th largest state in India and has emerged as the fastest growing state in terms of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), clocking a growth rate of 17.06 per cent in FY 2014–15 followed by Madhya Pradesh at 16.86 per cent and Goa at 16.43 per cent.
The state is the largest producer of vegetables and the second-largest producer of fruits in India. Despite a high growth rate, the state is often termed as BIMARU (sick) and ranks at the lowest strata of the per capita income, which is INR 5,772 as compared to the all-India average of INR 23,946.
It is estimated that eight times of the population of New Zealand live below poverty line in the state on less than one dollar day.
Even Chief Minister Nitish Kumar agrees that the biggest issue confronting the state is a high level of corruption.
Leaders of Indian Community with Vijay Kumar Chaudhary at Mahatma Gandhi Centre
Mr Chaudhary, a veteran former Congress politician, joined Janta Dal United (JDU) in 2005 and was elected the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
He previously severed as Leader of JDU party in Bihar Legislative Assembly and the Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, Animal and Fish Resources and Information & Public Relations Department in the Bihar Cabinet under Mr Kumar.
Mr Chaudhary has also served as Home Minister and Finance Minister and presented Bihar’s annual budget for 2014–15.
The Speaker and his family were given a traditional Indian welcome with tilak and garland by the office bearers of the non-resident Bihari diaspora, which includes Bihar Samaj and Foundation’s Auckland chapter.
This was followed by a traditional Maori welcome with Hakka organised at a nearby Marae—the sacred place of Maoris.
In Auckland, the speaker met the Indian community leaders at Mahatma Gandhi Centre organised by the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NICA), the oldest established Indian organisation in New Zealand.
He also attended a dinner meeting hosted by National Party List Member of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.
The speaker exchanged views on issues related to Bihar, demonetisation, flood and water resources of the state.
NZ First List MP Mahesh Bindra with Vijay Kumar Chaudhary in Auckland
In a separate event, Mr Chaudhary also met New Zealand First List MP Mahesh Bindra, along with few local Bihari diaspora and exchanged views on the democratic traditions of New Zealand and current political and economic scenario of present Bihar.
Later, the speaker and his family went for sightseeing to Rotorua, the world famous town known for its geothermal activity and Maori culture.
After the excursion, Mr Chaudhary left for Sydney on December 26, 2016, on his way back to India.
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