PATH OF PROGRESS: Former Chief Justice of the Karnataka and Kerala High Courts V.S. Malimath (centre) releasing a draft plan for the State's development, in Bangalore on Thursday. President of the Institute of Parliamentary Affairs and MLA G. Basavan nappa (right) and institute Secretary M.C. Shanthamurthy are seen. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Based on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's 11-point agenda for the development of Karnataka, the Institute of Parliamentary Affairs here has prepared a draft plan to make the State an economic power in the next five years.

Dr. Kalam, in his address to a joint session of the State Legislature on November 20, 2005, outlined a vision document for eliminating poverty and illiteracy and providing facilities in rural areas.

Former Chief Justice of the Karnataka and Kerala High Courts V.S. Malimath released the draft plan, "Dr Abdul Kalam's Development Model for Karnataka — 2006-7 to 2011-12".

He said an able political leadership, good governance and a friendly climate for attracting investment are prerequisites for accelerating the State's economic growth. The Union and State governments, Planning Commission and the State Planning Board should work on the draft plan and evolve a feasible development model. The plan touches upon subjects highlighted by Dr. Kalam.

Thrust areas

The model envisages increasing the per capita income from Rs. 26,000 to Rs. 75,000 by 2012 and improving the lot of the people living below the poverty line, who constitute 19 per cent of the State's population. Achievement of 100 per cent literacy and creation of two million jobs are other thrust areas of the model.

The plan, which notes the State's core competency in some areas and rich material resources, aims at increasing production of cotton to 900 kg an acre as in Punjab; linking cotton production to the apparel export business; and exporting garments worth Rs. 100 crores in three years. It says efforts will have to be made to create four lakh direct-employment opportunities in the textile sector.

Horticulture

The model seeks to increase earnings from the horticulture sector from Rs. 6,000 crores to Rs. 10,000 crores by 2009 by combining advanced research, water management and biotechnology. Cooperation from the National Horticulture Mission, farmers and the Government are essential to harness the potential in the sector. Steps need to be taken for hygienic processing, packaging and standardisation of products, it says.

The other major areas that the plan refers to are energy, water management, tourism, paramedics, diversification of knowledge products and steps to provide facilities in rural areas.

To tackle energy shortage, the institute has advocated cultivation of bio-fuel plants (jatropha) on 35 lakh hectares of land, which may yield an annual production of 35 lakh tonnes of bio-fuels. It envisages power generation from municipal waste to ease energy shortage.

On tourism, it says the State should prepare a plan to increase the number of domestic tourists from 21 million to 40 million a year. Development facilitators in Bangalore should be world class. Infrastructure, such as roads, airports and railway, needs to be developed to tap the economic potential, it says.

M.C. Shantamurthy, secretary of the institute, said the draft plan has limitations.

Shortage of electricity, non-availability of trained labour, support from banks and frequent changes in government policies are major constraints. The plan was prepared after a study of Dr. Kalam's model and in consultation with experts from various fields, he added.

G. Basavannappa, MLA, former Minister and president of the institute, was present.

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