PATNA: In a significant move, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led the Bihar Cabinet to pass a resolution on Wednesday, appealing for the allocation of a special category status to Bihar. Following the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister took to his official platform, expressing a renewed call for granting special status to the state.

"Today, the Cabinet unanimously passed a proposal urging the Central government to confer special category status upon Bihar. I earnestly implore the Central government to promptly consider and grant Bihar the status of a special state, keeping in mind the welfare of its people," Nitish Kumar highlighted in a statement released post the Cabinet session.

Kumar emphasized the necessity of an estimated sum of around Rs. 2.50 lakh crore to implement various state government initiatives for the benefit of its populace. "Given the substantial financial requirements for these endeavors, we have set a target to accomplish them within five years. The conferment of special state status by the Central government would expedite these initiatives," Kumar asserted.

The Chief Minister underlined his persistent advocacy for this status, dating back to 2010, citing public demonstrations held on November 24, 2012, at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, and on March 17, 2013, at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi to support this demand.

Indirectly critiquing the erstwhile Congress-led government under Manmohan Singh, Kumar expressed disappointment over their lack of action in response to the demand. "Despite our consistent appeals, the previous Central government formed the Raghuram Rajan Committee upon our request, and its report was issued in September 2013. However, no concrete steps were taken by the government at that time," Kumar lamented.

Highlighting the significance of a caste-based survey conducted within the state, Kumar explained its role in augmenting reservations in Bihar. "Bihar conducted a pioneering caste-based survey, resulting in an increase in reservation quotas to 65% based on social, economic, and educational data. Furthermore, a ten percent reservation for economically disadvantaged individuals in the general category remains applicable, culminating in a total reservation cap of 75%," Kumar elucidated.

Citing survey data, Kumar emphasized the identification of approximately 94 lakh financially challenged families in Bihar, spanning across all categories. He outlined plans to provide up to Rs. 2 lakh in installments for employment opportunities to one member from each of these families.

"The financial aid limit for 63,850 homeless and landless families, earmarked for land acquisition, has been raised from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. Additionally, these families will receive Rs. 1,20,000 for housing construction. The 39 lakh families residing in huts will also benefit from permanent housing, receiving Rs. 1,20,000 per family. Under the Sustainable Livelihood Scheme, extremely impoverished families will now receive Rs. 2 lakh instead of the previous Rs. 1 lakh," Kumar detailed, outlining the government's welfare initiatives.

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