PATNA: With the demand of special category status to Bihar at the top of his agenda, chief minister Nitish Kumar sees a silver lining and a ray of hope for the state in finance minister P Chidambaram's statement in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. "Now, we can hope that something positive will emerge," said Nitish at a function here.
He said that Chidambaram while admitting Bihar's backwardness on various human development indexes said Bihar could not be left behind and criteria for grant of special status needed revisited. "I have been constantly pressing the centre to change the criteria so that Bihar and other backward states should also be considered for special status," the CM said.
The FM's response came in reply to a question by N K Singh of JD-U in the Rajya Sabha. Chidambaram had stated, "The current criteria for deciding backwardness, etc are based on terrain, population density, international borders, infrastructure backwardness etc. I think while these criteria have served useful purpose, it is perhaps time to revisit these criteria. I think what is important is that no state is left behind, no part of India should be left behind as we move forward. My current thinking is that we should look at the needs under different parameters."
"There may be other parameters also. But look at the mean in those parameters and measure the distance of each state from the mean; and, then devise plans and programmes, so that those who are farthest away from the mean, come closer to the mean. I am confident that with the support of all the sections of the House we would be able to devise a measure by which we can ensure that States which are far away from the mean in India are brought closure to the mean," he stated in Rajya Sabha.
Chidambaram also revealed that the plan document was ready and expected that the National Development Council (NDC) will endorse the plan document. "I doubt whether my thoughts can be crystalized into a plan of action through the NDC. But my thoughts will be crystalized and placed before the Fourteenth Finance Commission," the FM promised.
Expressing his happiness over the FM's plans to change the criteria, Nitish said he had made this plea before the Prime Minister too during his last meeting early this month. "It is heartening that the FM has used the same words in which we have made request to him. After our sustained struggle now the centre has eventually realized it and in principle accepted our demand for changing the criteria," Nitish said.
Nitish positive after finance minister's statement on special status
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Nitish positive after finance minister's statement on special status
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Nitish positive after finance minister's statement on special status
