Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Jayalalithaa sets `development goals'

By Our Special Correspondent

The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, addressing the first meeting of the reconstituted State Planning Commission at the Secretariat in Chennai on Monday. _ Photo: T. A. Hafeez

CHENNAI July 1. Even while according top priority to the restoration of Tamil Nadu's fiscal health, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today set `development goals', and urged the State Planning Commission to formulate plans to achieve them. Addressing members of the Commission, she called for doubling of the per capita income by 2010. She wanted education up to Class V universalised by 2005.

Also, by 2006, Ms. Jayalalithaa expected that Tamil Nadu would become the leading player in information technology in India and regional gateway to Asia.

By 2008, the State would be the top-ranking manufactured goods exporter in India, doubling its export earnings.

And by 2015, each village would have electricity, a trunk road, telephone and Internet connectivity, a school, clean water and sanitation, a village health worker and local self-government.

Noting that Tamil Nadu had set a target of eight per cent growth per annum in the GSDP for the Tenth Plan, Ms. Jayalalithaa said: ``We need to identify the sectors and sub-sectors which are growth-promoting and build into our strategy a facilitating environment for the accelerated growth of these sectors.''

However, growth must be accompanied by an expansion of employment opportunities.

Warning that the path to prosperity would not be smooth, she said the Government had prepared a medium-term programme for restructuring the finances of the State. Detailing the reforms initiated, she referred to the constitution of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, the revamping of the Public Distribution System and the changes in the transport sector.

"Without reforms, there could not be a road map of the Tenth Plan, she said and wanted the Commission to finalise the reform package.

The Commission could play an important role in identification of suitable industries and enterprises for the 385 blocks. While pointing out that the State's performance in the Ninth Plan was discouraging, the Chief Minister said the Government was formulating a new industrial policy.

The Commission Deputy Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan, and other members attended the meeting.

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