Bihar's bid for special status gains momentum, Cabinet passes resolution urging Centre's action

Bihar Special Status: In a significant move, the Bihar Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has adopted a resolution, petitioning the Central Government to confer special category status upon Bihar. The Chief Minister, in a statement following the cabinet meeting, underscored the urgency of this designation for the state's progress.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in a social media post, expressed, "Today in the cabinet meeting, a proposal has been passed to request the Central Government to give special state status to Bihar. My request is that keeping in mind the interest of the people of Bihar, the Central Government should immediately give special state status to Bihar."

Financial Imperative: Caste Survey Highlights Need for Special Status

Highlighting the financial imperative, Kumar referred to the recent caste-based survey, revealing that a substantial amount of funds is necessary for the implementation of public developmental projects, especially for the backward classes.

"In the caste-based survey, about 94 lakh poor families have been found in Bihar. An amount of up to Rs 2 lakh will be provided in instalments for employment to one member of each of those families. The limit of Rs 60 thousand being given to 63,850 houseless and landless families for purchasing land has been increased to Rs 1 lakh," Kumar outlined.

Vision for Bihar: Special Status as a Catalyst for Swift Progress

Elaborating on the potential impact of special state status, Kumar shared, "If Bihar gets the status of a special state by the Central Government, then we will complete this work in a very short time." He emphasised that the infusion of funds enabled by special status would expedite the execution of critical projects in the state.

Long-standing Appeal: Bihar's Ongoing Plea for Special Status

S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary in Bihar, highlighted the prolonged appeal to the central government, dating back to 2010. He stressed that the financial requisites for housing and land allocation demand expeditious action, which can be facilitated by granting special state status.

"For giving lands to the landless and houses to homeless families, there is a requirement to spend Rs 2.5 lakh crore. To get such a large amount, it is essential that the state gets the status of a special state so that this happens faster. Repeated requests have been sent to the central government since 2010," Siddharth stated.

Political Discourse: BJP's Response and Chief Minister's Ultimatum

Responding to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's threat of a state-wide movement if special category status is not granted, BJP MP Sushil Modi reiterated that no state would be accorded special status, citing the recommendations of the Raghuram Rajan committee and the 14th Finance Commission.

"No matter how much you protest, no state will get special status. The concept itself has been done away with by the Raghuram Rajan committee and the 14th Finance Commission," stated Sushil Modi.

The discourse continues as Bihar's leadership asserts its demand for special status, setting the stage for potential developments in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for updates on this significant regional development.

(With ANI Inputs)