The Bihar Government has appointed noted Jaipur-based economist V.S. Vyas as Chairman of its Steering Group on Agriculture to formulate a medium-term perspective and an action plan for the agriculture sector in the State during the 11th Five Year Plan.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in a communication addressed to Prof. Vyas, said the steering groups on agriculture and other sectors would set the benchmarks for key development imperatives and help enhance the quality of public expenditure in the State.
Mr. Kumar said even as the preparations for the 11th Plan had begun, the high poverty ratio and low human indicators as well as low per capita consumption of energy in Bihar had invested urgency to the State Government's efforts. The Commissioner and Secretary of Agriculture Department will be the Member-Secretary of the Task Force.
Prof. Vyas, a recipient of Padma Vibhushan, is presently the Chairman of the Planning Commission's working group on agriculture and crop production.
He was earlier the Director of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, for nearly a decade.
From: The Hindu, 25-09-06
