Bihar praised for improvement in public services

"There has been improvement in implementation of public services in Bihar in the past three-four years," United Kingdom's Department of International Development (DFID)'s Country Head (India) Sam Sharpe told reporters here.

"The result of reforms in public services is evident in the health sector, particularly in reduction of maternal mortality rate," he said.

The DFID was involved in the improvement of health and allied services in Bihar and has provided assistance of Rs 200 million pounds to the state government in sectors like health, nutrition and urban bodies capacity building, Sharpe said.

Asked to identity the sectors in which he has seen improvement in delivery of services, he pointed out the health sector vis-a-vis reduction in maternity mortality rate, but evaded replying to another question for his opinion on the services showing least improvement.

The DFID official was here to release Citizen Report Card on Public Services in Rural Bihar (2012) which has been designed and managed by a Bangalore-based NGO - Public Affairs Foundation (PAF).