The Hindu 21.03.2013
Rajasthan Annual Plan pegged at Rs.40,500 crore
The Annual Plan for Rajasthan for 2013-14 was finalised at Rs.40,500 crore at a meeting here on Wednesday between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. At this level, the Plan size for the new fiscal beginning April 1 is almost 21 per cent higher than the outlay for 2012-13.
Initiating the Plan discussions, Mr. Ahluwalia lauded the State Government for its overall performance and pointed out that Rajasthan achieved the highest farm growth rate of 7.9 per cent against the national average of 3.7 per cent during the 11th Plan period (2007-12). He also commended the government’s efforts towards self-reliance in power and hoped that the State would be self-sufficient in power generation in a year’s time.
Mr. Ahluwalia also hailed the State for its innovative policies aimed at ensuring inclusive growth and reaching out to beneficiaries of various social sector schemes. Water security, he said, was a major challenge for the State and a very careful approach was required to meet the future needs of the essential commodity. He said drip irrigation and recycling of used water was desirable and the government should work out strategy in this regard and for which support of the Planning Commission would be available for working out a long-term plan.
The Commission also pointed out that Rajasthan has been one of the best performing States in agriculture with above five per cent growth in the 11th Plan period. For sustaining the growth in agriculture sector, it was noted that more emphasis should be given to deteriorating quality of land and underground water, composite farming system in arid and semi-arid region and creating scope for diversification in cropping system.
The launch of “Mukhya Mantri Nishulk Dawa Yojana” under which more than 300 essential medicines are provided to the poor free of cost through around 15,000 drug distribution centres also came in for appreciation. While another programme -- Rajasthan Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana -- is being implemented in the State to improve the health of the mother and child, the Commission stressed that more substantial efforts and strategies are required to improve health indicators.
Briefing the Commission, Chief Minister Gehlot said the sound financial health of the State’s economy had been achieved through an innovative approach and focus of the government’s development strategy continues to be inclusive growth. The thrust area for the 12th Plan (2012-17) for Electronics and IT Sector is on e-Development of India through a multi-pronged strategy. This includes promotion of e-Infrastructure to facilities and fast track e-governance, promotion of software (IT-ITeS) industry, building knowledge network and securing India’s cyber space.
Mr. Gehlot invited Mr. Ahluwalia to the inauguration of metro railway in Jaipur in June this year while pointing out that it had been constructed in a record time of less than 2.5 years with the support of Delhi Metro.
