Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi day praised the economic track record of Odisha, noting that it did well among other non-Congress ruled states.
“States ruled by non-congress government are performing consistently. These states are marching towards development in terms of economic growth and reformation in the system,” Modi said. He had come here to attend the All India Tax Conference.
However, he avoided specific questions related to state government. It may be noted that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was part of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) until 2009.
According to data contained in the Economic Survey for 2011-12, it has been estimated that the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Odisha grew at 7.18 per cent as against the national average of 6.5 per cent during previous fiscal.
Quick estimates have pegged the state's growth at 8.60 per cent in 2010-11 at 2004-05 prices. The state economy has grown, in real terms (at 2004-05 prices) at an average annual rate of 8.49 per cent in the first four years of the 11th Plan despite global economic slowdown.
After attending the tax conference, Modi, who is a BJP leader in Bihar, also visited the state party office here.
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He said, Janata Dal United (JDU) and BJP had come back to power in 2010 in Bihar with a thumping majority, which is a record in any coalition government in any state and as a result, Bihar is witnessing commendable development.
Modi said, few years ago Bihar had the highest migration rate among all states. But currently, the rate has dropped to 27 per cent, which has become a matter of concern in Maharastra and Punjab, as large farmers and industrialists there are finding it hard to arrange labourers.Bihar is the first state to implement 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayatiraj system in the country and taking a cue, other eight states including Odisha, have adopted similar reservation policy, he said after his meeting Odisha BJP MLAs.
Apart from providing social upliftment to women by reserving political posts, Bihar is also providing Rs 300 to Rs700 to schoolgirls along with free cycles, a scheme which was also imitated by other governments including Odisha, Modi added.