Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday claimed that his state has forged ahead in the last 10 years under his stewardship, clocking a 10 per cent growth rate and development in health, roads, power, agriculture and
education sectors among others.
Reeling out figures, Kumar, who took over the reins of a largely backward Bihar in 2005, took credit for bringing the ratio of boys and girls to almost equal at senior secondary level despite skewed sex ratio, saying this represented a growth journey of the state.
Presenting a report card of 10 years of his rule flanked by all ministers of his Cabinet, Kumar said, "There was an impression that nothing could happen in Bihar. I changed it and proved Bihar could move ahead."
The chief minister said that Bihar maintained a 10 per cent growth rate at fixed prices during the period 2005-15. Kumar also made some new announcements like a pension scheme for journalists with effect from August 1, 2015 and promise to bring a Public Grievance Redressal Bill in the coming session of Assembly.
He also announced enhancing retirement age of doctors, employees of Ayush and those teaching in medical institutions by two years to 67.
The most remarkable sign of improvement was in the law and order situation in the state, as the chief minister claimed, "We have established rule of law in Bihar. Fear has vanished from mind of citizens of the state and they could go anywhere anytime as per their needs."
Presenting data, Kumar said that in 2005 the police strength per lakh was 57, which saw a jump to 88 now. "'The Apki Sarkar Apke Dwar' programme has been completed
in 8 districts, 25 blocks and 65 panchayats," he said, adding, under the Integrated Area Plan in the extremist-affected districts a total of Rs 927.77 crore had been spent on 10,806 completed projects between 2010-11 to 2014-15.
Kumar said that the most satisfying achievement for him was to lift the literacy level among girls attributing this to the innovative idea of distributing bicycles and uniforms to students.
Affirming that his government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, Kumar said from the year 2006 till now the state vigilance department had arrested 758 government servants in 671 trap cases. The vigilance court has
punished 140 persons in 100 cases.
From 2006 till now 231 cases of dereliction of duty have been lodged and 79 cases have been lodged under disproportionate assets, he said.
Under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 57 cases are under consideration, property worth Rs 15.10 crore has been confiscated in 9 cases, he said. The size of the state budget has increased from Rs 26328.68 crore in 2005-06, which went up to Rs 120685.32 crore in 2015-16.
The health sector has witnessed a complete overhaul with primary health centre and district hospitals operating on a 24x7 basis.
"In 2005 patients being treated in Primary Health Centres was 39 per month which has risen to 11,000 on monthly basis," he said.
In the education sector, in 2005 about 12 per cent children were out of school which has been reduced now to 1.72 per cent, the CM said.
Almost 3.70 lakh children have been brought in the mainstream by "Vidyalaya Chalo Kendra", 12 lakhs by "Prayash Kendra", 1.41 lakh children of minority community by "Maktab Madarsa Navachari Kendras", 85,000 children by "Talimi Markaz Kendras" and 6 lakh children of mahadalit community by "Uthan kendra" and 3.77 lakhs children by "Utpreran kendra", he said.
In the road sector, the CM said a maze of roads and bridges have been constructed and this was providing connectivity to people in the remotest corner of the state.
From 2006 up till now 66,508 km of roads, major as well rural roads, have been constructed/upgraded, he said.
In the power sector, Kumar said, "The per capita consumption of electricity has increased from 70 KWH in 2005 to 203 KWH in 2015." Highlighting stress on cleanliness, he said toilets have been constructed for 36.85 lakhs families living under poverty line and 12.44 lakhs living above poverty line.
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