Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 3, 2010
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/biz/india-business/Bihar-grew-by-1103-next-only-to-Gujarat/articleshow/5405973.cms
Introduction: The state seems to be on steroids
- it has grown at a stunning 11.03% between 2004-05 and 2008-09 as against
a -5.15% growth curve in 2003-04. The good news coincided with Nitish Kumar
taking over as CM from Lalu Prasad.
Bihar is India's new miracle economy. In the
five-year period between 2004-05 and 2008-09, Bihar's GDP has grown by a stunning
11.03%, way beyond the definition of 7% growth for a ``miracle economy''.
In this period, Bihar - traditionally a laggard
state that actually saw a 5.15% negative growth in 2003-04 - is the second
fastest growing state, just a shade behind Gujarat's well-publicized growth
of 11.05%.
The latest CSO data gives out this dramatic
story of Bihar on steroids. This high growth period also coincides with Nitish
Kumar taking up the reins as chief minister from Lalu Yadav. It can, therefore,
be said that good governance can work miracles for even the most backward
of states. Not just Bihar, most of the traditionally backward states, including
Orissa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, have done
well in this period, indicating a more inclusive growth at an all-India level.
There is no official data on poverty beyond
2004-05. So, the CSO data on the economic growth of the states, highlighting
the fact that five of India's most backward states have grown at a rate beyond
7%, provides pointers to some kind of poverty mitigation. Apart from Bihar,
the growth rate of the other four are: Uttarakhand 9.31%, Orissa 8.74% and
Jharkhand 8.45%. The all-India growth during this period was 8.49%.
