The Hindu : "AP growth rate much less than nation's"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 24, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

"AP growth rate much less than nation's"

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Aug. 23. Andhra Pradesh's growth rate was much less than the national growth rate, but it did well in the areas of reducing poverty, raising literacy, checking population, power sector and urban reforms, Som Pal, Member of the Planning Commission said here on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference, he spoke in favour of subsidised power supply to the farm sector, saying the overall subsidy to agriculture was "marginal''.

He disputed the claim that subsidised power supply worked out to 28 to 32 per cent at the national level and said it was 14 to 15 per cent only.

There had been a tendency to attribute losses from theft and transmission and distribution to agriculture, which was wrong. In urban areas these losses worked out to 41 percent and New Delhi topped the list with 50 per cent.

He supported the State Government's plan to wean people away and reduce their dependence on agriculture, as listed out in the Vision 2020 document but said it should be in terms of creating better infrastructure rather than adding to problem of migration into urban areas.

Earlier, Anil Kumar V. Epur, P. Chengal Reddy, M. Sitarama Swamy and A. Bhavani Prasad of the Federation of Farmers Associations presented memoranda to Mr. Som Pal, on issues confronted by farmers.

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"AP growth rate much less than nation's"