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The Jains through Time
Jain Education International
improve conditions. They are full of enthusiasm and want to contribute to the development of our pilgrimage sites, as well as helping local people. Industrialists are willing to put up factories; schools, colleges and hospitals could be opened - but nothing will get off the ground if the law and order situation does not improve. The fact is that just hearing the word 'Bihar' frightens people. An awful atmosphere of insecurity prevails there. Everyone is worried about the problem. To improve the situation, the first thing local people have to do is to instill confidence in their visitors by creating an atmosphere of safety in these areas. Let the benefactors be seen not just as a source of revenue but as respected guests, and let local people be entirely responsible for their safety.
The locals should make the visitors feel at home and should make them feel secure. They should let the visitors know that they are with them, not against them, and show willingness to help in the development work. In my view it is only then that these problems of development at the pilgrimage
sites can be properly addressed. We must replace the present 'reign of terror' in these parts with security, and illiteracy and disease with an atmosphere of trust and collaborative effort, so that the task of development can be carried through successfully.
Much can be done to promote vegetarianism in Bihar. Local people are trapped by ignorance and addiction, so it will be necessary to go from door to door to tell them about a better way of living. First, their diet and manner of life will have to change they'll have to be free from addiction. The ordinary person in the area is very poor, fearful and superstitious. As they are uneducated, they are unable even to think of progress. Our first priority is to end this ignorance and addiction. Poverty is no crime; it is merely the consequence of ignorance and lack of a proper education. No development is possible for these people unless their mental outlook changes. Pilgrimage site protection committees and other organisations should get together and agree to a programme of action. At the same
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