PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced the setting up of an Administrative Reforms Commission and a Land Reforms Commission for making the bureaucracy transparent and invited private enterprise for developing vital service sectors in the State.

Mr. Kumar released a document for "good governance" containing the common minimum programme of the NDA Government, which is based on the salient features of the Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party manifestoes. Deputy Chief Minister S.K. Modi was present on the occasion.

Under the new plans for good governance, power would be decentralised and the public's complaints catalogued and put on a website. Delays in addressing them would invite action. Officials would be assigned for the job and held responsible. The Government intends to update and computerise land records and distribute surplus land among deprived sections.

There are plans to open the education and health sectors to private enterprise without compromising on standards. The norms would be outlined by expert committees.

The Chief Minister also invited private entrepreneurs to revive the power and sugar sectors. The Government was willing to hand over some of its sick sugar mills to private hands.

Mentioning his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders in Delhi, Mr. Kumar said he was confident of receiving assistance which would also help increase the country's rate of growth.

He is also likely to attend a meeting of NRIs in Hyderabad in his bid to invite investments in the State.

The document also includes a 10-point programme for the welfare of minorities, promising, among other things, communal harmony and justice in the Bhagalpur riot case.

Mr. Kumar said he would not tolerate corrupt practices and would deal with political violence with an iron hand.

The naxalite problem, he said, would be tackled through a composite action plan.

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