BIMARU states are progressing, says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said rural per capita consumption has increased four times faster than earlier due to enhanced economic prosperity in rural areas and BIMARU states have witnessed progress.

"Many states which had been considered backward for a long time, with some of them being called BIMARU are now progressing," Singh said in his Independence Day address to the nation.

The BIMARU states are four northern Indian states - Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The term BIMARU was used to describe the state of economy in these states.

Several studies, including those by the UN, showed that the performance of the BIMARU states affected the GDP growth rate of India. Some of these states are also being affected by the Naxal menace and also a part of the Red Corridor.

However, since some of these states have now started to advance faster, the concept of BIMARU is starting to become outdated.

"We now see clear indications of enhanced economic prosperity in our rural areas. In the period 2004-11, rural per capita consumption has increased four times faster than earlier," the Prime Minister said

Referring to MNREGA, the UPA's flagship programme, Singh said, "Rural wages have also increased much faster in this period (2004-11). MNREGA provides employment to crores of people in rural areas,"

In his 30-minute speech, the Prime Minister invoked the legacy of Nehru and the Gandhis and the contribution of the Congress party to the country.