KOHIMA, FEB 6 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio held Plan discussions with Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi today for the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) and Annual Plan for 2007-08. During discussions, the Chief Minister was also assisted by Planning and Co-ordination Minister, Dr. Shurhozelie, the Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board, Deo Nukhu, Chief Secretary, Lalhuma, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commission, Lalthara, Finance Commissioner H.K Khulu and other senior officials.
Meanwhile, the outlay of the State’s Annual Plan for 2007-08 has been fixed at Rs 900 crore as compared to the current year’s outlay of Rs 760 crore representing a growth of 18.5 %, informed Development Commissioner Lalthara in a press communiqué.
According to Lalthara, the Chief Minister stated that the Annual Plan would lay emphasis on agriculture and allied sectors for upliftment of the economic condition of the rural population and that the year of farmers observed during the the year 2006-07 would be extended to 2007-08 also.
Besides, programmes related to empowerment of the youth and women, creation of more employment opportunities and promotion of sports and other youth activities would also form the core sector of the plan, the Development Commissioner informed.
Working Group discussions in the Planning Commission will be followed tomorrow, the 7th February 2007. Joint Development Commissioner, Arem Aier said that Working Group discussions will take up discussions for Sectors which include Power & Energy, Education, Housing & Urban Development, Health & Family Welfare, Rural Development and District Plan, Industries and Commerce, Forest, Agriculture etc.
In a separate report made available by the Press Information Bureau, the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, complimented the State for high growth rate especially in the sectors of agriculture and education. He said socio-economic progress in the State was impressive. Efforts to promote bio-diversity conservation and empowering village development committees were steps in the right direction. He also appreciated the Eleventh Plan proposal of the State and suggested that efforts should be made to improve tax base.
It was pointed out that more districts of the State would be covered under NREGP. State was asked to pay more attention to programmes under Bharat Nirman and work towards improving quality of education. Attention was also drawn to losses in the power sector and expenditure on salaries to the government employees.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the policies followed for the last few years have helped in accelerating growth. He said growth in agriculture particularly horticulture was encouraging and have attained commercial scale. Industrial houses like Dabur & ITC have shown interest in the products. Flowers are being exported and food-grain production has gone up substantially.
Efforts are on to balance liberalization with social equity for which many innovations ranging from new and simple technologies to e-governance are being introduced. He said the State is being counted among front running reforming States of the country. GSDP has been growing at an average of 11.2 per cent with a primary sector growth of 15 per cent and secondary sector at 13.2 per cent. The per capita income was at slightly over Rs.21000. He said the State would be aiming at a growth rate of 14.46 per cent for the Eleventh Plan period. Besides agriculture focus will be on marketing, processing and technology intervention. Organic cultivation would be promoted. He sought Planning Commission support in improving connectivity.
