Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday made a strong pitch for bringing to an end the policy of implementing Centrally-sponsored schemes in states, saying the Centre should confine itself to broad policy making.

"You (Centre) develop policy and broad roadmap. Leave the decision on schemes for states. Stop Centrally-sponsored schemes. You give us task...you decide a target and help and monitor us but why going into minute details?," Kumar asked.

Speaking at a round table conference on "Combating Food Inflation" in New Delhi, Kumar said there was a need to change the mindset while framing development policies.

He rued that the Centre was still to finalise the Detailed Action Plan since the last three years about the interlinking of rivers in Bihar, which could have helped the state tackle the problem of floods.

Kumar also termed as a "joke" the Centre's allocation of Rs 400 crore for the Eastern India green revolution project.

He said the government "needs to be cautious as the number of below poverty line (BPL) families would increase with the rise in food prices".

The Bihar chief minister said there are only 65 lakh BPL families in Bihar according to Centre's estimate but the state government estimates the number to be 1.4 crore and is committed to provide food security to this entire population.

Kumar said the NDA's victory in Bihar Assembly polls has given a clear message that people will vote to power those who provide governance and added, "You cannot come to power merely by divisive slogans".