Patna:
A World Bank team today called on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and discussed overall development in Bihar and progress of those schemes being sponsored by the international lender.
The team comprised its Managing Director Mulyani Indrawati and the Managing Director (Finance) Bertrand Badre.
During hour-long deliberation, the team appreciated development works being done by the NDA government and expressed willingness to expand its activities here saying the state was integral to their scheme of things.
The visiting World Bank officials particularly hailed the state government's initiatives in the field of education of girls and expressed commitment to provide adequate assistance, besides invest funds in priority economic sectors.
The chief minister, on his part, apprised the World Bank officials about its decision to improve educational infrastructure by setting up 1000 high secondary schools each year to ensure at least one such institution in each panchayat so that qualitative improvement could be brought about in social and human development index.
Kumar said that it was imperative to provide education to the girls which could help improve gender ratio and reduce child marriage and fertility rate to attain a long-term plan to curb population in Bihar.
Kumar also highlighted state's plan to improve road infrastructure and dwelt on steps being taken to improve farm sector and electricity for the benefit of the people.
The World Bank officials also expressed desire to set up some of its offices in Bihar to monitor progress of implementation of schemes being aided by it.