Development key to pride of Bihari people: Nitish Kumar

MADHUBANI: According special category status to Bihar would lead to development and employment of its people, as a result of which their dignity would be restored in other states, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said today.

"I am striving for special status demand so that the people of Bihar cannot be insulted by anybody as has been the case in Maharashtra and some other states," he told a public meeting in Madhubani district.

"I am fighting to restore the dignity of the people by bringing fruits of development at their doorsteps so that they will not have to go outside in search of employment and suffer insult and abuse from anyone in future," Kumar said.

The chief minister said the grant of special category status was imperative for development so as to make the people proud of themselves and their state.

He said the state was lagging behind in terms of per capita income, development deficit and industrial development.

The grant of special status will bring private investment in industrial sector and make additional funds available as the state will have to contribute only ten per cent in the implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes, he said.

This fund could be utilised by the state government for launching fresh development schemes for the benefit of the people, Kumar said.