The Planning Commission on Tuesday finalised a budget outlay of Rs. 1,737.65-crore including a Central assistance of Rs. 35 crore to Goa for the next fiscal of 2008-09. This year’s outlay is 21% more then last year’s budget.
The plan was finalised at a meeting held in New Delhi between Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluawalia and Chief Minister of state Digambar Kamat.
Finalising the budget outlay, Ahluwalia appreciated the impressive achievement earned by Goa especially in social and economy sector that have marked Goa in the leading position in the country. The state has shown a growth rate of 8.4% in the 10th five-year plan compared to 6.9 percent in the Ninth five-year plan. In this fiscal year Goa has achieved the target of 10% growth rate as against the national growth rate of 9.3%.
Goa is also eyeing to beat the target of 12.1% in the eleventh plan (2007-12) as viewing its glorious recent economical history and strong future plans. Planning Commission has set the target of 12.1% state growth rate while 7.7% in the agricultural growth.
However, Ahluwalia has asked to Chief Minister Kamat to pay more attention towards tourism and mining sectors. Goa has always been among the major tourism places for visitors. “Besides these, CM should need to focus more attention towards agro-tourism, agro-processing and organic farming”, cited Ahluwalia.
The decreasing rate of secondary level of education and increasing gender gap are the major areas of concern, added Ahluwalia in his statement.
Presenting the development report before the Commission, Kamat said that Goa would continue to focus on social development with increased participation of private sector. The per-capita income of the state is highest in the country, which is three times to the national per-capita income.
State has planed to achieve 15.7% growth rate in industry while 9% rate in service sector to beat the target of 12.1% growth rate in the 11th plan. “Women self-help groups are being encouraged to take up income generating activities. To achieve higher growth rate in industry, food processing & agro based industries, IT & IT enabled services pharmaceuticals & bio-tech industries and tourism would be given priority.” said Kamat.
Chief Minister has asked Ahluwalia to grant an additional Central Assistant of Rs.90-crore for developing the overall infrastructure of state including sewage system and road network to meet the increasing burden of tourists and to fulfill the requirement of proposed 2011 National Games that is scheduled to be held in the state.
Ahluwalia has assured Kamat to put the proposal of granting him the required Central Assistance before the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Commission has decided to setup a task force under the chairmanship of principal adviser (transport) to work out the modalities for the Central Assistance towards development of road network in Goa.
Goa makes to the government of India and urged to provide additional central assistance in view of the 2011 National Games proposed to be held in Goa and for development and maintenance of infrastructure with a special thrust on road network for the State of Goa. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission agreed to honour the commitment made by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and decided to setup a task force under the chairmanship of principal adviser (transport), Planning Commission to work out the modalities for the Central Assistance towards development of road network in Goa.
Finance Minister of the state Dayanand Narvekar, Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Dr. Wilfred de Souza, Chief Secretary J P Singh and other senior officers of the State were also present in the meeting with Chief Minister Kamat, as per an official statement issued here.
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