The Hindu : National : "Reach consensus on ways to achieve economic goals"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 10, 2005

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National

"Reach consensus on ways to achieve economic goals"

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 9. The Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, today said that there was broad consensus across the political spectrum on the economic objectives that the country had set for itself but differences persisted on the path chosen to attain the objectives.

"The real issue is: what should we do to achieve those objectives. Not surprisingly, when one talks about action in pursuit of objectives that's the area where there is a little bit more difference of opinion," he said.

In a democracy, the differences sharpened before and after an election. Since last year's general elections had led to a change of government, it was not surprising that there were different perspectives on which path the country should take, he said.

He was delivering the 30th Frank Moraes Memorial Lecture on `Economic Challenges Facing the Nation,' organised by the United Writers' Association and the Frank Moraes Foundation.

The aims included equitable growth, eliminating the gaps in health care and education, ensuring total literacy and reduction of poverty, he said.

The Planning Commission was preparing the mid-term appraisal of the Tenth Five-Year Plan. "This will be our opportunity to define the policy agenda more carefully."

Problems

The decline in agricultural growth, the lack of adequate infrastructure and an evident decline in the ability of the Union and State Governments to use money efficiently to deliver services to the people were among the problems the country faced. But there was reason for optimism: the political leadership both at the Centre and the State levels were much more aware of the ground realities. Making health and education infrastructure accountable at the local level should be among the first steps, he added.

The former Supreme Court judge, S. Mohan, said priority should be given to maintaining price stability.

The Bharat Overseas Bank chairman, G. Krishnamurthy, said there was space for banks to play a role in development.

Mr. Ahluwalia presented the `Himalaya Award' to the Association secretary-general, K. Thiagarajan, for his services.

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