Patna: RJD on Saturday assailed Bihar's NDA
government for allegedly "befooling and misleading the people"
by showing a growth rate of 11.04 per cent and claimed that
the World Bank has said Bihar's economic condition was "worse
than Ghana".
"The World Bank has said the economic condition of the
state is worse than that of Ghana," RJD spokesman Shakeel
Ahmed Khan said at a press conference with General Secretary
Ramkripal Yadav, without specifying the report of the World
Bank.
Stating that the claim of growth rate by the
government was not not only "incorrect but also brought to the
fore the real face of the state government", Khan said
according the World Bank's report, Bihar lagged behind all
other states in the country on the fronts of primary health,
drinking water and education.
The report had also held that the governance in the
state was poor and the gap between the poor and rich was
growing, he said.
"Eighty per cent of funds meant for development for the
poor are being siphoned off as rampant corruption prevails.
The contractor, officials and politicians enjoying patronage
from the state government are the most benefited lot," Khan
alleged.
Khan said even noted economist of Mumbai R Nagraj in a
recent article said there had been contradictions in the
growth rate being claimed by the state government and the real
growth rate.
The actual growth rate in Bihar stood at 7.5 per cent
against the national average of 8.5 per cent and according to
a survey conducted by the India Today magazine, Bihar
performed poorly, he said.
"Bihar has not increased in any sector and the
only sector where the state has progress is corruption," he
said adding the Nitish Kumar government was on its out.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, April 03, 2010, 21:08