Discovery of Bihar: Why CM Samrat Choudhary wants officials to play tourists

Key points

• On a hot May afternoon, Bihar's bureaucracy received an unusual assignment.
• Its officers were not being asked to review files, inspect projects or attend another round of meetings.
• Instead, they were being told to pack bags, leave their districts and travel across the state.
• The directive, issued by the general administration department headed by chief minister Samrat Choudhary, requires government officials to undertake periodic visits to tourist destinations, stay overnight and return with suggestions on how those places can be improved.
• On paper, it is a tourism initiative.