Panel for classifying backward state soon: Chidambaram

Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said that a high level sub-committee would be formed soon to revisit the criteria for deciding backwardness.

The sub-committee to be headed by Prime Minister's Economic Advisor Raghuram Rajan would be told to submit the report in a month's time to decide which state qualifies, Chidambaram told reporters.

Asked about the chance of Bihar being on the list, the Union minister said, "Bihar will certainly qualify (on the new criteria of backwardness)." Chidambaram, who in his Budget speech had favoured changing criteria for deciding backwardness of a state for the purpose of giving special status, said "Things are well on the move." Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who was present, and his party Janata Dal (United) have been demanding special category status for Bihar to spur its development process.

JD(U) organised two big rallies, one in Patna (in November 2012) and another at Ramlila maidan Delhi in March last, in support of the demand.

The CM, who has been pressing for special status as Bihar lags the national average on all important indices, has said it will be a major issue during the 2014 general elections. He also said that his party support for formation of a government at the centre after 2014 polls would depend on its view on giving special status to Bihar. Planning Minister Rajeev Shukla had in April told Parliament that the requests of Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan for special category status were under examination with the Planning Commission.