Patna/IBNS/UNI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Sunday announced that a mega campaign would be launched soon to exert the pressure on Centre to accept special status demand for his state.

Kumar while addressing a function organised by his party JD(U) here said that there was an urgent need for special status to Bihar which must be accepted by the Centre soon.

On the basis of findings of a recently held socio-economic caste census, the state government had decided to launch welfare schemes for the poor and deprived, which needed Rs 2.5 lakh Crores, he said.

"The Bihar government will spend Rs. 50,000 crores every year for 5 years to complete the target of providing financial assistance to targeted groups and individuals under the proposed scheme," the Chief Minister said adding that the target could be achieved in three years if Bihar was given special status by the Centre.

His government had been demanding a special status for Bihar for a long time.

Kumar said that a mega campaign could be launched soon to exert pressure on the Centre to grant special status to Bihar.

He exhorted the people and all stakeholders to extend their support so that the Centre was forced to accept the special status to the state.