Bihar : Towards a Development Strategy The challenge of development in Bihar is enormous due to persistent poverty, complex social stratification, unsatisfactory infrastructure and weak governance; these problems are well known but not well understood. The people of Bihar - civil society, businessmen, government officials, farmers, and politicians - also struggle against an image problem that is deeply damaging to Bihar's growth prospects. An effort is needed to change this perception, and to search for real solutions and strategies to meet Bihar's development challenge. The main mesage of this report is one of hope. There are many success stories not well known outside Bihar that demonstrate it strong potential, and could in fact provide lessons for other regions. A boost to economic growth, improved social indicators, and poverty reduction will require a multi-dimensional development strategy that builds on Bihar's successes and draws on the underlying resilience and strengths of its people.
Full Text of the Report (1.10mb) Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chapter I : Development Challenges & Poverty in Bihar
Chapter II : Improving the Climate for Investment and Growth
Chapter III : Strengthening Public Finances
Chapter IV : Governance and Public Administration in Bihar
Chapter V : Service Delivery and Poverty Alleviation Policies
Chapter VI : Towards a Development Strategy
Annexure 1 : Poverty in Bihar : trends and correlates
Annexure 2 : Some examples of transfer of funds to the state
Annexure 3 : Issues in civil service reform |
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