A few days ago, I met a young journalist from Bihar. Barely 21 or 22 years old, he was already carrying the weight of frustration that usually belongs to older generations. His anger was not without reason. Born and raised in Bihar, he has seen closely how politics and governance can shape, and sometimes crush, the future of an entire state.
What struck me most was his unwillingness to compare Bihar with Jharkhand. “Don’t compare us,” he said firmly, when the discussion turned to industry and migration. And he had a point.
Bihar: Too Many People, Too Few Opportunities
Bihar today is home to more than 13.5 crore people, making it one of the most densely populated regions in the world. This overwhelming population puts enormous strain on land, jobs, healthcare, and education.
No matter how many policies are drafted or schemes launched, the demand always exceeds the supply. For young people in Bihar, the only option often left is migration—whether to Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra, or even southern states. It is not that Biharis lack talent or hard work; the sheer demographic pressure suffocates opportunity.
Jharkhand: Rich Land, Poor People
Now look at Jharkhand. A state carved out of Bihar in the year 2000, Jharkhand is much younger and smaller with a population of only around 3 crore. Unlike Bihar, Jharkhand inherited vast mineral wealth—coal, iron ore, uranium, bauxite—and industrial hubs like Jamshedpur, Bokaro, and Dhanbad.
On paper, this should have been a success story. Fewer people, more resources, and industries already in place. Yet the ground reality tells another tale.
In remote villages of Jharkhand, people still suffer from medical shortages. Many communities struggle for basic food security. Malnutrition among children remains alarmingly high. This is not because the state lacks wealth—it is because that wealth has not translated into welfare.
Migration: Two Faces of the Same Coin
Migration unites both states, but in different ways.
In Bihar, people migrate because there are not enough industries or jobs to absorb its massive population.
In Jharkhand, people migrate despite the presence of industries, because the benefits rarely reach ordinary citizens. Corruption, poor governance, and lack of infrastructure push them out.
In both cases, young men and women leave home, becoming labourers, drivers, security guards, or construction workers in faraway cities. Their dreams remain postponed, often permanently.
The Political Factor
Bihar’s politics has seen stability under leaders like Nitish Kumar, yet development has not matched people’s aspirations. The state remains dependent on remittances and central funds.
Jharkhand, on the other hand, suffers from political instability. Frequent changes of government, corruption scandals, and weak long-term planning mean that despite being resource-rich, the state is stuck in underdevelopment.
Opportunity and Irony
This is where the young journalist’s frustration made sense. Bihar has too many people for too little land and too few industries. Jharkhand, by contrast, has a manageable population and abundant natural wealth but fails to use it.
The irony is cruel. A state like Jharkhand, which produces coal, steel, and electricity for the entire country, cannot guarantee medicine for the sick or food for the hungry in its own villages.
A Way Forward
If Jharkhand can fix its governance and invest in healthcare, education, and industrialization, it could become a model of prosperity in Eastern India. With only three crore people, it has the chance to balance resources and population in a way Bihar never can.
For Bihar, the path is harder, but not impossible. By investing in education, small-scale industries, and agricultural modernization, Bihar can create opportunities that reduce forced migration.
Final Word
The young Bihari journalist I met did not want his state to be compared with Jharkhand. And he was right. Both states have their own challenges—Bihar’s is overpopulation, Jharkhand’s is underutilization.
But the real tragedy is that in both places, ordinary people—whether farmers in Bihar or tribals in Jharkhand—are still waiting for the promise of development to become reality.
Until then, frustration will remain the common language of the youth on both sides of the border.
