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Planning Commission fixes State's annual plan at Rs. 14,000 crore
Special Correspondent
| Top priority will be given to agriculture, says Karunanidhi |
WORKING VISIT: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Monday.
NEW DELHI: The Planning Commission on Monday fixed the annual plan of Tamil Nadu for the new fiscal at Rs 14,000 crore, at a meeting Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had with the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
The Plan outlay includes additional Central assistance of Rs. 200 crore for projects of special assistance to Tamil Nadu.
Initiating the discussions, Dr. Ahluwalia hailed the State's all-round development with a special focus on growth with equity and social justice. The State had been successfully implementing the public-private partnership model in various sectors. Particularly commendable were its efforts at rural electrification and the fact that it had become a hub of industrial development in IT servicing and automobile parts.
Skill development
These achievements notwithstanding, it was pointed out, skill development should be given greater emphasis to match the growing demands, especially in sectors such as tourism, manufacturing and services. Drawing attention to the low growth rate during the Tenth Plan period, the Commission recommended a more judicious and scientific use of the State's natural resources. Priority areas during the Eleventh Plan period should be effective harnessing of water resources along with a shift in the cropping pattern.
While appreciating the State's performance in the health sector and the declining trend in the reported cases of HIV/AIDS in particular, the Commission recommended special attention to textiles and leather machinery manufacturing as it would facilitate greater industrial activity in these sectors.
The Chief Minister thanked the Commission for its "full support" in the tsunami relief programme, which had helped the State Government to take up 22,000 houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Package.
About the priorities during the Eleventh Plan period, which has been earmarked an outlay of Rs. 80,000 crore, Mr. Karunanidhi declared that top priority would be given to agriculture. He requested the Commission to ensure Central funding for the peninsular component of the project for inter-linking of rivers during the Plan period, as it would help the State in revitalising agriculture, benefiting millions of people.
Mr. Karunanidhi also sought the Centre's support in implementing the scheme for providing households with gas stove and free gas connection, saying the scheme was aimed at improving the health of women while preserving the forest cover and environment.
He pointed out that Tamil Nadu would hardly benefit from the `Bharat Nirman' programme as it was already ahead in rural electrification, water supply and roads. He felt that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) should be extended to all districts of the State.
He pointed out that since only six districts would benefit from the backward region grant fund. Dharmapuri district should also be included in the list of beneficiaries.
Mr. Karunanidhi also urged the Planning Commission to consolidate Centrally sponsored schemes and make them more flexible so that States could tailor them to suit their needs. The `Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' project should be expanded to cover secondary education. Central aid for rural housing should be substantially increased.
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