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Patna:
Bihar has been changing and developing fast but its poverty is not
declining, warned Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen here.
"It is a matter of serious concern that there is no decline in
poverty in Bihar despite a high growth rate and development,"
Abhijit Sen, who is here to attend a three-day global meet on
changing Bihar, told IANS.
Sen, a well-known economist, said that while Bihar had been
maintaining good growth rates between 2004 and 2009, it had failed
to reduce the rate of poverty. "Bihar has impressed many with its
high growth rate. That is good. But at the same time, the state
has not seen a decline in the rate of poverty. It is still at the
bottom of the pile and has a lot of catching up to do," he said.
Sen said that this was clearly reflected in the National Sample
Survey Organisation report.
He agreed that outside the state, people do have a sense that
something good is happening in Bihar and development is taking
place. "Bihar will have to maintain its growth rate for the next
five years with good governance," Sen said.
Sen said that the state government should work hard to ensure law
and order, maintain fiscal responsibility, good governance and
energy.
"Energy deficit is the major hurdle or roadblock for Bihar in
moving forward. The government should focus on energy," Sen said.
Sen, who has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of
Cambridge, also teaches at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New
Delhi.
Earlier, Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumarmanglam Birla said at
the meet that investments for heavy industries in Bihar would be
impossible until the power situation in the state improves
substantially. He urged the state government to first take steps
to improve its power situation and then expect investments.
Nearly half of Bihar's population of 104 million lives below the
poverty line.
(Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in)
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