The Hindu        21.03.2013 

Rajasthan Annual Plan pegged at Rs.40,500 crore

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with Planning Commission Deputy
Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Wednesday.Photo: Sandeep
Saxena

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.