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Rs.6,210-crore Annual Plan for Punjab

Photo: V. Sudershan

SPunjab calling: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal calling on Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: The Annual Plan of Punjab for 2008-09 was on Tuesday finalised at Rs.6,210 crore at a meeting here between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and State Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. The Plan outlay includes an additional Central assistance component of Rs. 200 crore for the priority projects of the State.

In his remarks, Dr. Ahluwalia commended the State government for its initiatives to ensure inclusive growth and efforts to encourage private sector participation in development. Its initiatives aimed at rejuvenating agriculture, skill development and manufacturing sector were also steps in the right direction, he said.

The Commission was asked to take the lead in agro-marketing and lay emphasis on skill development through public-private partnership, crop diversification, genetic improvement of major crops and reforms in the power sector. The State’s policy of providing free power, it was pointed, must be reviewed as it was leading to over-exploitation of groundwater. However, the State’s efforts to improve the growth rate and catch up with the national average were appreciated.

In his comments on the State’s development programme, Mr. Badal appreciated the Centre’s initiatives with regard to the skill development mission and the setting up of an international airport at Chandigarh. As for the State’s development policies, he said the government would focus on removing intra-regional imbalances, generation of productive employment, improving the quality of life by providing better healthcare, sanitation, safe drinking water, education and access to food.

Mr. Badal noted that the government’s focus would also be on improving the performance on social indicators to match the economic progress of the State. Concerns of the development of women and children would be addressed with greater emphasis and more attention would be paid to economic and social advancement of the under-privileged and disadvantaged groups.

To improve the employability of Punjab youth, the Chief Minister said that a new department of employment generation had been created and focused attention was being paid to improving the delivery of public services in health and education. High priority would also be given to the energy sector and social services. Mr. Badal sought an enhancement of grant under the Indira Awas Yojana to Rs 50,000 each from the current level of Rs 15,000.

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Rs.6,210-crore Annual Plan for Punjab

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