Raghuram Rajan panel opens window for giving special category status to Bihar

PATNA: The Raghuram Rajan panel report has opened the window for according special category status to Bihar and other backward states but all that will require a political will, said panel member Shaibal Gupta. The panel set up to evolve a methodology for devolution of funds to states on the basis of their need and performance recently submitted its report to the Centre.

The report, which categorised Bihar among the 10 least developed states buttressing their case for seeking larger quantum of funds, however, remained silent on the special category status demand, an issue which is now being raked up by the Opposition BJP in Bihar.

Gupta defended the report describing it as a very positive development which will change the discourse of development in the country.

“The committee adopted variables for formulating composite index development of states. We would have been far happier if variables like per capita income, energy consumption, credit deposit ratio were adopted by the committee for formulating new methodology for measuring the backwardness of the states,”Gupta told reporters here on Sunday.

At the same time, Gupta said the report was not a static piece of document and the criteria recommended by the committee could be revisited after every five years. “I even submitted my dissent note to the committee hoping our variables will be adopted later. The report opens the window for necessary course correction in future,” Gupta remarked.

Anyway, he said, the first round of battle has been won with Bihar all set to garner larger quantum of fund following its categorisation as the second most least developed state in the country.