Let there be definition on 'garibi', says Bihar deputy CM

Gandhinagar, Apr 16 (UNI) Terming the classification of Below the Poverty Line (BPL) category by the Centre as arbitrary and unscientific, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Finance Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said ''it is time that the Centre should define who is garib' (poor).'' Addressing mediapersons here, Mr Modi said Bihar is entitled, as per its classification, to 13 points per BPL family, while the Centre has pegged 16.5 points for Gujarat to judge a BPL family.

The BPL survey is done by the respective state governments and it is the state which has the right to decide on the number of BPL families, he said.

Bihar has over one crore BPL families, while the Centre has allocated grains, oil and kerosene to 65,000 families, he said.

According to this, only those families which come under 13 points are BPL, while the Centre has pegged 16.5 points for Gujarat to judge a BPL family, the Minister pointed out.

''I would like the Central government to define who is a 'garib','' Mr Modi said.

In June, an international conference on 'garibi' would be held, where social scientists from India and abroad are invited to attend it, he informed.

''Our aim is to broach a national debate on definition of poverty,'' he said.

On the inflation hovering at around 6.50 per cent, Mr Modi said controlling price rise was singularly the duty of the Central government and inflation was directly the result of policies of the Centre.

''The Centre accuses the state governments of failing to control price rise is totally wrong. It must take strong steps to combat inflation on its own'', he said.

Flaying the Centre for degrading Planning Commission and the National Development Council (NDC), Mr Modi said today the two bodies have become unimportant.

Blaming the Centre for not finalising the 11th Five-year Plan, he said the Plan is treated as a draft and the Centre says it would take one-and-half year more to finalise it.

''I demand approval of the draft on behalf of Bihar government and finalise it within the next six months,'' Mr Modi said.

''Why is the Centre taking so much time for finalising the draft,'' he wondered. This affects the state government's budgetary allocations, he added.

He said the Planning Commission has lost its power to sanction yet the state governments are forced to come to Delhi and stand before the panel for the state's requirements. There is no need for the state officials to visit the Plan panel to solicit funds, he said.

He said the NDC must be made effective and relevant and not simply a showpiece.

On Bihar, Mr Modi said his main worry was Bihar' negative image.

So far, in all developmental parameters, it stood at the lowest rung of the ladder. Ever since the BJP-Janata Dal(U) government, led by Nitish Kumar, took over 17 months ago there has been a visible turnaround. Today, Bihar is not following others but others are following it, said Mr Modi.

UNI