The state will ask Bihar cadre IAS officers, presently on deputation in New Delhi, to portray the state as an industrial hub and monitor industry-related schemes for Bihar.

At a meeting slated to take place in New Delhi later this month, chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is expected to talk to Bihar cadre IAS officers, asking them to spread the word about Bihar’s industrialisation so that it gets advantage of the Centre’s schemes and attracts potential investors.

“The meeting was scheduled for November 14, but the dates could change. However, it will be take surely place this month. It might take place during the India International Trade Fair, scheduled to take place from November 14 to 27 at Pragati Maidan.

During the fair, the state will organise a Bihar Divas at its pavilion where the chief minister will interact with potential investors and Bihar cadre bureaucrats. A meeting in this connection took place in New Delhi last month,” Bihar Industries Association (BIA) president Arun Agarwal told The Telegraph.

Industries department sources said Bihar-based IAS officers’ participation in the industrial development process of Bihar was essential. A senior department official said on condition of anonymity: “The final date of the meeting would be announced soon. At present, many senior Bihar cadre IAS officers are on central deputation. Some of them have been in New Delhi since long and have good connections with the ministries, Union ministers and also the who’s who of the state.”

He further said: “The 2014-15 budget lists sops for Bihar in the form of an IIM (Indian Institute of Management), a textile mega cluster in Bhagalpur, development of the Sarnath-Gaya-Varanasi Buddha circuit, funds for the development of Ganga ghats in Patna etc. Many a time things do not kick off because of lack of monitoring. A Bihar-cadre IAS officer has emotions attached with the state and can monitor the projects in Delhi and request higher-ups to provide what is needed for the state’s development. It can be called a lobbying process. They can lobby for Bihar and it is possible the Centre would grant more facilities to the state.”

Besides, he said, the IAS officers can also be in touch with potential investors in Delhi and inform them about the state’s vision on industry, aspects of industrial incentive policy etc. “They can attract investments to the state if they try,” he said.

At present, 33 IAS officers of Bihar cadre are on central deputation. Bandana Preyashi, who was earlier with the social welfare department in Bihar, was the last bureaucrat from the state to go on central deputation, in October. She is now secretary to Union minister Ravishankar Prasad.

Among Bihar cadre IAS officers on central deputation is 1979 batch IAS officer Afzal Amanullah, who was last posted in Bihar as principal secretary in the industries department. He is secretary in the parliamentary affairs ministry since December 31, 2012.

The list also includes C.K. Mishra, who was principal secretary of the state industries department before Amanullah. He has been in Delhi since April 2012 at the ministry of health and family welfare. Amarjeet Sinha, who was in Bihar as principal secretary of the education department, is also on central deputation since September this year and is posted at the ministry of higher education.

Then there is Sandeep Poundrik, a 1992 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer who was secretary in the state urban development department before he went on central deputation in October.

“There are many IAS officers who have been on deputation for long. They must have developed and maintained good contacts and relations with different ministries and officials in Delhi. They can always help Bihar in its industrial development process,” the department official said.