Patna, Aug. 26: The Prime Minister is considering the letter of chief minister Nitish Kumar regarding setting up of an independent commission for below poverty line (BPL) families on the lines of Election Commission of India.

Holding a meeting with Nitish at Samvad today, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh today said: “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has accepted the letter of Nitish Kumar and he is seriously considering the letter wherein Nitish has demanded the setting up of an independent commission for the BPL families.”

Earlier, Nitish had written a letter to the PMO which said: “We are of the view that the number of people below the poverty line should be decided using the findings of the socio-economic census and not in a pre-determined manner as is currently done.”

Jairam visited Patna to talk on five issues, including villager drinking water, MNREGA, Indira Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana and the BPL issue.

Speaking on the occasion, Jairam said for the purpose of rural development, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 178 crore to Bihar: “I had a meeting with Nitish and we have discussed on various issues as Rs 90,000 crore is there in this particular department and out of it, Rs 9,000 is for Bihar but the present central government has sanctioned Rs 178 crore as first instalment to Bihar for the purpose of rural development.”

He added: “For the past two years, the Centre was unable to sanction any money to the Bihar government under PMGSY but this deadlock will break soon as on August 31, we have called a meeting in Delhi and September 15, there would be discussion on the core network.” He added: “We have to focus on Maoist-hit districts in Bihar for the purpose of development and this is reason that I will visit Gaya and Jehanabad.”