Seema Kacker in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, March 28: When 23-year-old Indian American Seema Kacker landed in Patna last November, it was nothing less than a culture shock for her. But now, four months into her research programme in the state capital, she just cannot stop loving the city.

Kacker, an economics graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, is in Bihar on health and poverty alleviation-related research work for Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL).

Once she achieves her goal to become a doctor, Kacker would like to come back to Bihar and work for the people here.

She cannot stop talking about the warmth and co-operation she has received here.

“The people are so nice here. It is so easy to bond with them. I knew very few people when I first came here. Now I have a lot of good friends,” she said.

Seema, who is a research assistant for the J-PAL project in the state, said: “My work involves carrying out research on health indices and impact evaluation of a new fortified food product in Bihar. It will be compiled into a broader data and later passed onto the government for policy making. There are about 10 people in the J-PAL team in the state. So far, the experience has been excellent.”

She plans to pursue medicine in the US, while understanding the broader economic and development issues, once the project is over.

Prior to her visit to the state capital, Seema has also worked on a microfinance impact evaluation project in Hyderabad. But Patna appeals to her more.

“My parents, who hail from Delhi, are now based in the US. I do not have any connection with Bihar but I have fallen in love with the state. One cannot compare Bihar with the US but it is a good place to be. It is proving to be a fresh breath of air. I came to stay here as a single girl and the city has welcomed me with open arms. I like the strong family system here, something that is quite alien in the US,” she said.

So what does Seema like most in the city?

Pat comes the reply, the zoo. “I have learnt to wake up early in the morning to go for a jog at the zoo. It is the best part of my day. The zoo, I think, is the only well-maintained public place in the city. It is clean, green and peaceful. I just love being there. I will miss it once I return to the US,” added Seema.

J-PAL, which is a network of 53 affiliated professors around the world united by their use of randomised evaluations to answer questions critical to poverty alleviation, is currently working in collaboration with the state government.