PC approves Rs 440,000-mn annual plan for AP

New Delhi: The annual plan outlay of Andhra Pradesh for 2008-09 has been pegged at Rs 44,000 crore, inclusive of additional Central assistance of Rs 165 crore for projects of special interest to the State.

This was agreed at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

In his comments on the Plan performance of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Ahluwalia said that the State was doing well in all sectors of economy and alluded to the State’s efforts for encouraging private sector participation in social sectors including education and health in this regard.

He said the social sector indicators were showing a positive trend and stood generally better than the national average. He, however, laid accent on participative planning at district and village level to ensure better impact.

Complimenting the State on focused attention to agriculture and allied areas, he said fund flow to irrigation sector has gone up substantially during the last four years with the State posting impressive increase in yields. Mr Ahluwalia suggested that increased attention to agriculture should not lead to ignoring allied areas such as animal husbandry and fisheries.

The State Government was appreciated for introducing agriculture insurance scheme with village as a unit, loan to farmers on three per cent interest and aggressive agriculture extension programme. He said the State with tighter discipline could definitely achieve almost total literacy by 2015. He said public private partnership in rural education was a step in the right direction,Rs 165 crore for projects.

Briefing the Commission on the Plan performance of the State, the Chief Minister said that last four years, the economy has climbed an accelerated growth trajectory because of bold policy initiative in major areas. The GSDP has recorded the highest ever plan growth of 7.42 per cent. The growth rate for 2007-08 (first year of the Eleventh Plan) was expected to be 10.37 per cent.

He said because of substantial support from the Planning Commission, Andhra Pradesh has speeded up the growth process and ensured that it is more inclusive. Substantial increase in public expenditure has catalysed private investment and brought about a buoyant turn in the economy of the State.

He said prudent financial management and judicious deployment of resources have together decreased fiscal deficit and eliminated revenue deficit.