The Hindu : Front Page : Plan panel lauds State’s record

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Sunday, Jul 20, 2008
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Plan panel lauds State’s record

C. Gouridasan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala’s performance in the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), particularly the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, has come in for praise from the Planning Commission.

Planning Commission member Balachandra Munghekhar, who conducted a special review of the implementation of the schemes here on Friday on instructions from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the schemes and the progress made by the State with regard to social sector schemes.

Dr. Munghekhar would submit his report to the Prime Minister within a week about his assessment of Kerala’s performance.

Kerala had an allocation of Rs.1,159 crore from the Centre for the Centrally Sponsored Schemes during 2007-’08. Out of this, Rs.922 crore came from the Centre and Rs.237 crore from the State budget. In addition, Rs.400 crore came from the Centre directly for some 15 fully Centrally funded schemes.

The Planning Commission members were told that that the State had utilised as much as Rs.824 crore, constituting 83 per cent of the total allocation for Centrally Sponsored Schemes, during 2007-’08.

In the case of the NREGP, the total Central release during 2007-’08 was Rs.58.11 crore. The State government allocated Rs.7.56 crore taking the total allocation to Rs.99 crore. The year saw the State utilising Rs.83.36 crore for the project, which constituted 84 per cent of the total allocation.

During 2007-’08, 2,65,140 households were issued job cards. Out of the 1,88,373 houses that demanded employment, 1,82,029 households were given employment during the year.

The progress in NREGP implementation so far this year (2008-’09) has also been commendable with 1,09,629 out of the 1,15,996 households that had sought employment being provided with jobs.

The total enrolment in the NREGP this year has also shown a marked increase to 3,09,450 households. So far, this year, the State has utilised Rs.23.39 crore out of the Rs.121.53-crore outlay for the year.

Dr.Munghekhar, who held discussions with the State Planning Board members and senior officers, felt that Kerala must address the second generation development issues. He proposed holding of a two-day workshop to be organised jointly by the Planning Commission and the State Planning Board to discuss the relevant issues .

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