Patna, May 21 (Reporter) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said collapse of law and order during "Jungle Raj" in Bihar, is common perception but it also affected economy of the state adversely to a great extent. Sitharaman told media persons here that Bihar had suffered huge losses in terms of economy due to 'Jungle Raj ' in the state and it is far beyond the common perception of collapse of law and order during those days. Taking into account of economic aspect of 'Jungle raj ' , it came to light that per capita income of Bihar was Rs 21,282 in 1992 which decreased to Rs 14,209, a fall of 33 percent, during the period of ' Jungle Raj ', she pointed out. The Finance Minister said that per capita income of Odisha was Rs 20,591 in 1992 which was decreased by 31 percent till 2002. It was a testimony of the fact that how far ' Jungle Raj ' had affected the economy of Bihar, she pointed out. Sitharaman said that per capita income of Bihar reached more than Rs 37,000 in 2019 due to sustained efforts by successive governments and Narendra Modi government at the Centre, after 'Jungle Raj' was over. It required much effort to steer out economy from gloomy era of ' Jungle Raj ', she noted. The Finance Minister also said that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had introduced freight equalization policy in 1952 which remained effective till 1992, causing great loss to Bihar affecting industrial growth of the state. As per freight equalization policy, minerals of Bihar was being made available to industries in other states at same price and transportation cost was being compensated by the government, she pointed out and added that Congress government was to be entirely blamed for backwardness of Bihar. Sitharaman while responding to a query relating to demand of special category status (SCS) for Bihar, said that its recommendations should come from Finance Commission. Finance Commission had recommended for decrease in central taxes and it was done in three slabs accordingly, she added. The Finance Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had fixed the target of India becoming a developed nation by the year 2047. North eastern states would be growth engine to achieve the goal, she stated. Sitharaman said that Bihar was being given more funds than state used to receive during the Congress regime at the Centre. Amount being given to Bihar under state's share of the taxes had also increased manifold, she said...////...