The Hindu : National : Hard decisions needed to attain growth, says Montek

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Tuesday, Jul 06, 2004

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Hard decisions needed to attain growth, says Montek

By Our Special Correspondent

— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Newly-appointed Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia with other Planning Commission members B. Mongekar and Syeda Hamid, after assuming charge in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI, JULY 5. The new Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, formally took charge today, saying that hard decisions were necessary to attain 7-8 per cent economic growth as targeted in the Tenth Plan. Much would also depend on reversing the slowdown in agriculture growth.

Dr. Ahluwalia said that health, education, agriculture and infrastructure were areas which required topmost priority and indicated that a mid-term review of the Tenth Plan would also be taken up immediately to bring it in tune with the policies outlined in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

The Deputy Chairman disclosed that the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, had directed the Commission to accord high priority to finding ways to implement the programmes and policies of the CMP. "Performance in agriculture is a matter of deep concern. The Prime Minister has said the deceleration in agriculture growth was a worrying factor. If it is not turned around, achieving the targeted growth of 7-8 per cent by the UPA Government will be difficult," Dr. Ahluwalia said.

With regard to development of infrastructure, he said a lot more needed to be done. "Even as there is a policy framework for the development of infrastructure, the environment is not very conducive for the required public-private partnership to achieve the desired level of infrastructure in the country.''

Four of the seven newly-appointed members, Balchandra Mungekar, who was the Vice Chancellor, Mumbai University; Abhijit Sen from the Jawaharlal Nehru University; Syeda Hamid, who was Member, National Commission for Women and Anwar-ul Hoda, a former Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO), were present.

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