Govt should stop subsidy on electricity : Meghnad Desai

Economist Meghnad Desai today criticised the prevalent system of providing electricity at subdised rates and said the government should take immediate steps to end it. Subsidy on electricity virtually leads to destruction of resources, he said addressing a session 'Challenges Before Bihar, Oppurtunities and Achievements' on the second day of Global Bihar Summit here.

"Giving subsidy while providing electricity is like offering free feast and destruction of financial resources rather waste of resources." Referring to Bihar, Desai, a member of the British House of Lords, said it would have to make women labour power an organ in the daily financial routine if the state had to progress.

"It is a matter of concern that the participation of women in the labour force has been very less ... Excess expenditure on developing women power can play a pivotal role in the development of the state."

The state should also give due attention to micro level planning. Special attention was required to give attention to every member of a family to reach the fruits of development. Desai stressed on the nutrition for the girl child, as their numbers formed the major chunk in the number of children affected by malnutrition in the state.

The fruits of development could be accessed by villages which have internet facilities, he said at the session participated by Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi and Chief Secretary Navin Kumar.