Sangh Parivar

Original Source: http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=131649

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia complimented the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for good performance. At a meeting, on Tuesday, to finalise the annual plan of the state, Ahluwalia said both fiscal and growth performance of Modi government is impressive. Growth rate of 10.4 per cent has been achieved in the Tenth Plan, which is better than the national average. The growth rate target for the state has been fixed at 11.2 per cent, which is achievable going, by the current trends.

The state was also complimented for encouraging public-private partnership in development of social infrastructure. Efforts to improve human development index and rural development strategy were also appreciated. The annual plan size for Gujarat for the year 2008-09 was agreed upon Rs. 21,000 crores.

But all was not well at the meeting. The Planning Commission members indicated that the funds allocation towards the SC/ST sections of society is only 5.8 per cent in Gujarat as against the target of 7 per cent. Modi immediately commented, “If the states don’t perform on this scale you tend to cut the funds, but what about the Center?” He said the central budget has ignored this seven per cent target.

Planning Commission members also indicated towards the rising drop out rate in higher studies in Gujarat. Modi replied, "Because the vocational courses are getting more popular."

Modi was of the view that instead of upgrading the Ahmedabad International airport, we should convert four airports of the state into international airports.

He said the Central government should make schemes more flexible so as to enable state governments to take full advantage and wanted more flexibility in rural development schemes. He said wind and solar energy should be accepted as lifestyle and disclosed that the state government proposes to make Gandhi Nagar, a solar city, for which a provision of Rs.100 crores has been made this year.

Gujarat also proposes to have a Children’s University, which would be first of its kind in the country. Modi advised the Plan panel members that there must be a national institute for teachers, so that teachers of international standard could be trained.