Stop Centrally-sponsored schemes: Nitish

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister NitishKumar today made a strong pitch for bringing to an end thepolicy of implementing Centrally-sponsored schemes in states,saying the Centre should confine itself to broad policymaking.

"You (Centre) develop policy and broad roadmap. Leavethe decision on schemes for states. Stop Centrally-sponsoredschemes. You give us task...you decide a target and help andmonitor us but why going into minute details?," Kumar asked.

Speaking at a round table conference on "CombatingFood Inflation" here, Kumar said there was a need to changethe mindset while framing development policies.

He rued that the Centre was still to finalise theDetailed Action Plan since the last three years about theinterlinking of rivers in Bihar, which could have helped thestate tackle the problem of floods.

Kumar also termed as a "joke" the Centre''s allocationof Rs 400 crore for the Eastern India green revolutionproject.

He said the government "needs to be cautious as thenumber of BPL families would increase with the rise in foodprices".

The Bihar Chief Minister said there are only 65 lakhBPL families in Bihar according to Centre''s estimate but thestate government estimates the number to be 1.4 crore and iscommitted to provide food security to this entire population.

Kumar said the NDA''s victory in Bihar Assembly pollshas given a clear message that people will vote to power thosewho provide governance and added, "You cannot come to powermerely by divisive slogans".