Nitish promises report card on first anniversry

Patna, May 24: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today promised a report card, on completion of one year in office, narrating the performance of his government to the people who had elected them with ''great expectations.''

Dedicating the newly built Suchna Bhawan to the people at a function here, Mr Kumar claimed that the NDA government, which completed six months today, had mobilised all the resources at their command to ensure an ''accelerated pace of development.'' Emphasising on inculcating a spirit of brotherhood among various sections of people in the society, Mr Kumar noted that Bihar had undergone a metamorphosis in respect of law and order since the NDA government took over.

''Bihar's image as a state, where rule of law did not prevail, has changed,'' he claimed.Mr Kumar said Bihar had undergone a perceptible change with the systematic governance within a short span of six months. He highlighted the achievements of his government during the period, saying the state had made immense progress and achieve the target of ten per cent growth rate fixed for the nation. He, however, admitted the dismal growth rate of Bihar and said his government had made strategies for an overall development of the state and it would be visible after the monsoon.

He said contrary to the previors government of the state, it was the NDA government, which enhanced the plan size and passed the budget on March 31 for its implementation.

Instead of operating through vote on account his government was functioning with a full budget, he added.

Mr Kumar said besides fifty per cent reservation to the women, the reservation given to the EBCs, SC and ST in Panchayat had generated a wave of enthusiasm in the entire remote area, where people were participating in the Panchayat elections with zeal and vigour.

He said Bihar took lead in according fifty per cent reservation to the women in panchayat and became the first state in the country to give the opportunity to the womenfolk for participating in the decision making process.

Bihar is the first state where employment guarantee scheme had been launched in all districts, he stated.

An authentic list of the Below Poverty Line people was being prepared afresh to provide the benefits to the right person, he said and added that the poor patients would get essential medicines free of cost in the OPDs from July one.

This apart those suffering from serious ailments would be provided with financial assistance for treatment, he informed.

Mr Kumar further said his government was concentrating on enhancement of infrastructure and functioning through proper fund management. He said tourism was a major sector, which could prove to be profitable as Bihar had inherited a rich cultural and religious heritage, inclduing Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, Maner, Nalanda and Pawapuri.

Keeping in mind its immense potential, the government had launched several projects for the development of tourist sites in the state.

Mr Kumar admitted the poor power scenario, saying the state was generating only 25 MW electricity and needed to purchase electricity to meet the requirements.

The government was interested in establishing thermal power plants and it had received about 14 proposals from the private investors, who had shown interest in investment which clearly indicated the change in the state's environment during the past six months.

He said his government had constitueted a commission for fresh probe into the Bhagalpur riot case and would rehabilitate the riot victims as per the recomendations of the commission. For their proper rehabilitation the state government had also written to the Centre, he said adding the loans of the victims had been waived off.

Deliberating on this occasion, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi concentrated on the law and order situation, claiming that it had improved as the incidents of kidnappings had gone down.

He, however, admitted that no state could be made total crime -free but the environment in Bihar had changed towards a positive direction where people could feel safer. The government was taking assistance of retired Army soldiers in the mission and had made them a part of police by raising State Auxiliary Police.

The entire environment of the state had taken a U turn and the developmental work had been taken up which would be visible once the monsoon was over. The technical institute - branch of BIT, Mesra - would be functional from July.

He also highlighted the work taken up by the Animal Husbandry department.

The function was also addressed by Bihar Information Minister Arjun Rai and others.

UNI