PATNA: The country's apex cooperative bank, NABARD, on Tuesday announced it would invest Rs.2,000 crore in Bihar over the next three years to boost its economy, appreciating the positive changes in the state's economic scenario.

``There was absolutely different condition in Bihar earlier. But now a sense of change is clearly visible and we want to extend a helping hand in the process of development by investing Rs.2,000 crore over the next three years in the fields of agriculture, health, education and revival of cooperative institutions'', National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Chairman Y S P Thorat told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Mr Thorat said, ``earlier the State Government showed little interest in attracting NABARD investments, but now after talks with different banks and through our own assessment we see a positive interest in development and so we have decided to pump money in the state's progress''.

Both the Chief Minister and the NABARD Chairman said the target was to raise Bihar's ranking in terms of investment by NABARD from 16th position at present to 6th in the next three years.

Panchayati raj

Mr Kumar said NABARD had agreed to invest in the fields of rural development, cooperative, panchayati raj institutions, irrigation, road, energy, health, human resources and agriculture.

The NABARD chief announced to open 80,000 Aganwadi Centres in the State. Mr Kumar said these centres would be located in primary schools.- PTI

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