Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the Planning Commission has identified 13 districts in Bihar and two in Orissa for coverage under the Backward Districts Initiative component of the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana.

Intervening during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, he said,  "The previous government when drawing up this programme excluded backward districts of Bihar because they thought Bihar had a special package. This matter was subsequently raised in the House and the then Prime Minister assured that the more backward districts of Bihar as well as Orissa would be included."

He said the Planning Commission "has identified 13 districts of Bihar and two districts of Orissa and proposals are under way to include these districts".

The prime minister intervened after the reply by Minister of State for Planning M V Rajasekharan failed to pacify members from Bihar who, cutting across party lines, said the Minister was "misleading" the House on the issue of financial package for the state.

Rajasekharan said 100 backward districts have been identified for coverage under the Backward Districts Initiative component of the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana.

In addition, 32 districts affected by left-wing extremism are also covered under this programme, he added.

More reports from Bihar