Frontier India Current Affairs

Written on April 21, 2008 – 8:50 pm | by FICA |

The Annual Plan for Andhra Pradesh for the year 2008-09 was finalized, here today, at a meeting between Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The Plan outlay was agreed at Rs.44000 crores. This includes additional Central assistance of Rs.165 crores for projects of special interest to the State.

In his comments on the Plan performance of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Ahluwalia said that the State was doing well in all sectors of economy. He appreciated the State’s efforts for encouraging private sector participation in social sectors including education and health.

He said the social sector indicators were showing positive trend and are generally better than the national average. While appreciating State’s thrust on social sector, he said participative planning at district and village level has to be encouraged to ensure better impact.

Complimenting the State on focused attention to agriculture & allied areas, he said fund flow to irrigation sector has gone up substantially during the last four years and State has recorded impressive increase in the yield. Mr. Ahluwalia suggested that increased attention to agriculture should not lead to ignoring allied areas like animal husbandry and fisheries. The State Government was appreciated for introducing agriculture insurance scheme with village as a unit, loan to farmers on 3 per cent interest and aggressive agriculture extension programme. He said the State with tighter discipline can definitely achieve almost total literacy by 2015. He said public private partnership in rural education was a step in the right direction.

Briefing the Commission on the Plan performance of the State, Shri Reddy said that during last four years the economy has climbed an accelerated growth trajectory because of bold policy initiative in major areas. The GSDP has recorded a highest ever plan growth of 7.42 per cent. The growth rate for 2007-08 (first year of the Eleventh Plan) was expected to be 10.37 per cent.

He said because of substantial support from the Commission, Andhra Pradesh has accelerated the growth process and ensured that it is more inclusive. Substantial increase in public expenditure has catalyzed private investment and brought about a buoyant turn in State economy. He said prudent financial management and judicious deployment of resources has decreased fiscal deficit and eliminated revenue deficit.