New Delhi, Nov 24: The Central Government on Wednesday said it was not feasible to give special category status to Rajasthan,Orissa and Goa, but the request of Bihar for the status is under consideration.
In a written response in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Planning Ashwini Kumar revealed that a delegation from Bihar had presented a memorandum to PM Manmohan Singh in July 2011 for requesting the state a special status. An inter-ministerial Group has been constituted on September 8 to evaluate the Memorandum.
At present there are 11 Special Category States namely Arunchal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand.
Ashwini Kumar said the special status was given in case a state was categorized by a number of features necessitating special consideration. The features on which spl status is awarded include: hilly and difficult terrain, low population density or sizeable share of tribal population, strategic location along borders, economic and infrastructural backwardness and non-viable nature of state finances. Bihar matches all the criteria set under Dr. Gadgil formula for the need of special attention to a state
The special status opens vaults of union government for the state in the form of 90% assistance and none lapsing of fund.
After the separation of Jharkhand from Bihar on November 15, 2000, mineral resources which were the prime revenue source have gone to the Jharkhand and the state is left with nothing.
Bihar is on the path of development and special status to Bihar would not only propel the growth of the state, but also assist in the development of the country.
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