The Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar has decided to open a higher secondary school in every panchayat in the State to reduce the fertility rate.
The announcement was made by the Chief Minister at the National Education Day on Monday to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Kumar cited studies which showed that while the fertility rate in the country stood at 1.7, it was 1.6 in case of Bihar if the girl is an intermediate pass.
“Keeping this in mind, higher secondary schools have been opened in around 6000 panchayats so far. The government will open higher secondary schools in all the remaining panchayats by April next year,” the CM said.
Bihar has 8500 panchayats in all, and its fertility rate as of now stands at 3.3 as compared to 4.3 in 2005.