CAMPAIGN FOR SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS FOR BIHAR2005 - 2010

CHIEF MINISTER NITISH KUMAR IS LEADING THE CAMPAIGN

FOR SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS TO BIHAR

FOR

7 YEARS

INITATED THE DEMAND IN A LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER ON 9 DECEMBER

2005

7 YEARS LATER

CALLS PEOPLE FOR SUPPORT AT RAMLILA GROUNDS ON MARCH 17, 2013

Shri Nitish Kumar writes to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh quoting President A.P.J Kalam “India can only succeed, if Bihar prospers.”

Attaching Memorandum For According Bihar Special Category Status and For Granting Development and Economic Packages, he highlights the insurmountable development deficit of Bihar and demands Special Category Status for Bihar to develop and industrialize the state.

Seeking structural interventions for development of the state, he states, “It is our request that on the line of provision and facilities provided to the North East States Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh, Bihar should be provided with same economic and development package.”

Dec 04, 2005 : “India can only succeed, if Bihar prospers”

April 4, 2006 Parties Unite for Special Category Status to

Bihar

Bihar Legislative Assembly passes unanimous resolution for Special Category Status. Members of all political parties express solidarity.

June 03, 2006 “Granting Special Status to the State will be an

appropriate step in this direction.”Nitish writes to the Prime Minister apprising him of the unanimous resolution passed by Bihar Legislative Assembly.

Highlights development deficit of Bihar describing high poverty (43%) compared to national average of (27%), significant deficiency in infrastructure and energy, poor health and education apparatus and low per capita income of Rs. 4088 compared to national average of Rs. 13332/-

“Bihar’s backwardness is pulling down the national figure and jointly the State and the Center should address the issue and come up with immediate solutions.”

Seeks time for All Party Delegation from Bihar to meet the Prime Minister

June 08, 2006 Nitish meets the Prime Minister, Demands

Special Category Status for Bihar

“ We also requested the Prime Minister to grant a special category status to Bihar and an all-party delegation from the state will also meet him soon in this regard ”

April, 2007 PIL filed in Patna High Court on

Demand for Special Category Status

State Government and Central Government made respondents

Center asserts that Bihar does not match the criteria for Special Category Status.

PIL DISMISSED

May 15, 2009 Nitish makes strong national pitch for Special Category

Makes Special Category Status to Bihar a precondition for support to any

alliance at the Center

Congress reacts cautiously to the demand

May 23, 2009 Nitish Congratulates Manmohan

“Will address these Special Concerns” Says Manmohan

Shri Nitish Kumar writes of the Prime Minister congratulating him for assuming second term at Office.

Highlights key areas where Bihar’s development initiatives need his support and guidance.

In the reply to the motion of thanks to the President, the Prime Minister

mentions about the need to address

these special concerns.

July 14, 2009 Budget Neglects Bihar, Disappointed Nitish writes to the Prime Minister

“Even at the risk of repetition, let me summarize some of the issues which are central to our development strategy and do not find mention in the budget.”

“Special Category Status for Bihar: I have written to you earlier that given our development deficit, low tax base, high population density, poor infrastructure, low energy density, according a Special Category Status for Bihar is the only way to quickly improve our development matrix and entice private investment.”

11 October 2009 Special Category Status Campaign goes to people

“ A special signature drive should be launched by the party and a memorandum with over One Crore signatures should be submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that special status be granted to Bihar " Says Nitish at State Party Council Meeting of Janata Dal (United).

March 31, 2010 Fresh Resolution Placed in Bihar

Legislative CouncilProfessor Arun Kumar places fresh resolution in Bihar Legislative CouncilInjustices made in the past and persistent neglect of legitimate demands pushed Bihar into low income group states.

The council unanimously demands Special Category Status for Bihar so that the state could graduate to the category of high income group states.

“ I am forwarding this resolution in the context of the long pending demand for special category status for Bihar for active consideration by the Central Govt. ”

May 10, 2010 Chief Minister apprises Prime Minister

on the resolution passed in Bihar Legislative Council

Campaign for Special Category Status

End of part 1