Bihar Annual Plan 2008- 09 was finalized in a meeting that was held between Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar on 30th January, 2008. The total amount of the Bihar Annual Plan 2008- 09 has been fixed at around Rs. 13000 crores.
A short note on Bihar Annual Plan 2008- 09:
Bihar Annual Plan 2008- 09 was approved in a meeting that was held between Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar and Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission on 30th January, 2008. The total Bihar Annual Plan 2008- 09 has been finalized at around Rs. 13000 crores incuding an additional amount of about Rs. 100 crores from the center for projects that are of strategic importance to Bihar.
The Chief Minister of Bihar and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission have also agreed that on the basis of mid-year performance evaluation, an additional Rs. 500 crores can be allocated to Bihar. This would help to increase the total size of the Bihar Annual Plan 2008- 09 to about Rs. 13500 crores.
Mr. Ahluwalia, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission praised the state government of Bihar for the efforts that it has taken towards simplifying procedures, reforms in administration, deputation of powers and decentralization. He also complimented the initiatives taken by the state government to boost development in sectors like horticulture, education and health.
Shri Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, emphasized the special plans that have been developed by the state government in order to boost various sectors such as watershed development, power, forestry, irrigation, and road connectivity. Paramount importance has been given to the development of the social sector where 31% of the funds have been allocated.
The sectors like flood control and irrigation will also be focused for they will be alloted around 10.93% and 13% of the development funds respectively. The chief minister has laid stress on raising the standard of living of the people of Bihar to the level of the national average. He also said that the state government of Bihar has provided employment to 23.51 lakh people, issued around 65.4 lakh cards for jobs under NREGS, and completed 25651 works.
Commissions proposed to be set up in Bihar are:
- State Mahadalit Commission
- State Minority Commission
- Commission for Extremely Backward Classes
- Land Reforms Commission
