Bihar mantris more qualified than what viral post claimed

PATNA: An analysis of educational qualification of the Nitish cabinet done by Bihar Election Watch (BEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has nailed the lie propagated on Facebook and WhatsApp which describes almost all of them as semi-literates or illiterates. The message has gone viral ever since the ministers were sworn-in on November 20.

The BEW-ADR analysis, based on affidavits submitted by the MLAs to the Election Commission, has revealed that 17 of the total 28 ministers are graduates or possess higher degrees. Of the 17, five are graduates, four postgraduates, three hold doctorates and five are professional graduates.

In the social media message, Shivchandra Ram is described as an illiterate whereas the BEWADR report says he is a graduate. Similarly , Shailesh Kumar is shown to have studied till Class II and Vijay Prakash till Class V , but the report says both are postgraduates. Madan Mohan Jha has supposedly studied till Class VII, but in reality he is a PhD. State Congress president Ashok Choudhary , appointed as education minister, has supposedly studied till Class X but he is actually a PhD, according to the report.

Though 11 ministers have not studied beyond school -two passed Class VIII, three Class X and six Class XII -some of them have vast experience as ministers or lawmakers. For instance, finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui has not studied beyond Class XII, but has been into electoral politics for over four decades.