20.2.13

Bihar grows @ 11.95%


The ‘Bi’ in ‘Bimaru’, which stood for Bihar, may soon be dispensed with. Despite economic slowdown and sagging domestic demand, Bihar recorded a 11.95% growth, the highest among all states during the 11th Plan, says the Economic Survey 2012-13 tabled by deputy CM Sushil Modi in the assembly.
“The image of Bihar has undergone a change, thanks to high growth rate of its economy and accompanying developments in social sectors. This was made possible primarily through the efforts of the state government, which utilized its limited resources in a prudent manner,” said Modi.
The state, the survey says, has shown a revenue surplus since 2004-05 and it touched Rs 6,316 crore in 2010-11, the highest ever, before falling to Rs 4,821 crore in 2011-12. Agriculture production in 2011-12 was 172 lakh tonnes, compared to 104 lakh tonnes the previous fiscal. Rice production touched a new high of 8.2 million tonnes against 3.1 million tonnes in 2010-11. The use of SRI or system of root intensification technique helped in the bumper produce.
Not that there haven’t been slowdown’s side-effects. Bihar’s per capita income of Rs 25,653 at current prices is still behind the national average of Rs 60,972 in 2011-12. “Our gross state domestic product at 2004-05 prices is Rs 1.52 lakh crore and estimated to rise to Rs 2.53 lakh crore in 2011-12,” Modi said. The problem of low income in Bihar is accentuated by disparity across the districts in terms of their per capita income. In 2009-10, Patna, with a per capita income of Rs 55,539; Munger with Rs 18,669; and, Bhagalpur with Rs 14,396 have been the most prosperous districts whereas Sheohar has Rs 5,552; Madhepura Rs 7.161; and Supaul Rs 7,213, remained at the bottom.
The government had an outstanding debt of Rs 44,475 crore in 2007-08 (39% of its GSDP). By 2011-12, it declined to 24% even though the outstanding debt rose to Rs 60,551 crore. It was 53% in 2001-02. Bihar’s gross fiscal deficit was only Rs 3,971 crore in 2010-11 but it rose to Rs 5,915 crore in 2012. In 2012-13, it is projected to rise further to Rs 7,569 crore.

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