“What do you want from us? Blood, saliva or data?” People confronted me as soon as I entered Mohammadpur Umri.

Bihar  government’s budget has introduced measures to protect the environment. The budget passed for 2010-2011 includes sales tax and value added tax on old vehicles and halves the tax on battery-run vehicles.

The state’s finance minister, Sushil Kumar Modi, also announced a blanket ban on mining hills for quarrying stones. He said leases of existing quarries will not be renewed.

Close to the Pandai river that runs along the India-Nepal border lies Bikhnathori. The near-dry river bed is full of pebbles. At some distance shine the Himalayan peaks. This seemingly calm village calls itself orphan. Nepali people across the river call its residents water smugglers.

SHYAM NARAYAN SHARMA, a retired sergeant of the Indian Air Force, ended up behind bars when he filed a right to information (RTI) application with the block development officer. The 62-year-old retired air force officer was trying to get details of a land fraud involving his paternal property in Patna’s Dulhin Bazaar area. Soon after he filed the application, Sharma and his son were arrested on charges of rioting and breach of peace.

RAJKUMARI KUNWAR, 70 years old, lay inert on her cot when a few people entered her small hut in Rajharakharmi village on July 23. They could count the ribs on her frail body. The pots and pans lying around were covered in dust. An aluminium glass lay toppled by her bed.