With theNITI Aayogplacing Bihar at the bottom compared to other states on the basis of 12 parameters in its national multi-dimensional POVERTY index (NMPI) report, the states opposition and the ruling parties are engaged in a war of words. RJD national president Lalu Prasad and CM Nitish Kumar have also crossed swords in their own ways.
The report, prepared on the basis of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) with reference to 2015-16, has pointed to Bihars startling situation at the household level, even though its gross state domestic product (GSDP) has been in double figures. Bihar has been put in the club of the three poorest states Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
In fact, Bihar has figured poorly compared to Jharkhand and UP, as its 51.96% of people have been categorised as poor, another chunk of 51.88% deprived of Nutrition and 45.62% of Women as deprived of maternal health.
The 12 parameters on which the has rated states are nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, antenatal care, years of schooling of children, their school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets and bank accounts. Bihar has been rated as poor performing against seven of the 12 parameters and its best performing area is the provision of drinking water for people.
The other 10 other districts in the poorest category are Araria (64.65%), Madhepura (64.43%), East Champaran (64.13%), Supaul (64.10%), Jamui (64.01%), Sitamarhi (63.46%), Purnia (63.29%), Katihar (62.80%), Saharsa (61.48%) and Sheohar (60.30%).