Patna,(BiharTimes): Chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday that the state government had constitued a committee under Development Commissioner to promote manufacture of food items from Neera (pre-fermentation sap of palm tree) on the lines of Tamil Nadu.

Addressing women self-help groups at Muzaffarpur, where some Pasis held protest, the chief minister said women SHGs would be linked to the manufacture of items from Neera.

Citing the figures of the state police he said the crime rate has come down sharply after declaring Bihar a dry state on April 5. Nitish rejected the opposition charge of the return of Jungle Raj and said cases of murder has come down by 39 per cent, rape by 30 per cent, loots by 25 per cent, communal fights by 64 per cent and heinous crimes by 24 per cent.

The chief minister also said a fall has been noticed in the number of road accidents, atrocities on women, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and kindappings.

Referring to Gaya and Siwan incidents he said some condemnable crimes took place recently, but prompt and impartial action had been immediately taken.

Deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav, while speaking on the occasion, supported the Grand Alliance government’s decision to impose prohibition.

He he dared the opposition to get President's rule imposed in Bihar.

BPCC chief-cum-education minister Ashok Choudhary, finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and state police chief P K Thakur were present at the function organised by conglomorates of women self help groups.

Some women protested outside as they could not get pass to enter. The police dispersed them.