West Bengal plan outlay fixed at Rs. 116,023.80-mn

New Delhi: The annual Plan of West Bengal for 2008-09 has been pegged at Rs 11,602.38 crore, inclusive of additional Central Assistance of Rs 150 crore for projects of particular interest to the State.

This was agreed upon at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, here.

Montek’s pat
In his initial remarks, Mr Ahluwalia appreciated the State for improvements in its fiscal health, stating that both growth rate and inclusiveness of development programmes are showing healthy trend.

He said the State domestic product growth was at 8.1 per cent in 2005-06 and per capita income was also comparable to all-India figures. Mr Ahluwalia pointed out that the State was well set to reach the Eleventh Plan target of 9 per cent growth rate.

Funds utilisation
He said the Commission was keen on ensuring optimum utilisation of funds being allocated to the State for Centrally sponsored schemes.

For this purpose, he invited suggestions to make these schemes genuinely flexible. He said the State Government should firm up strategy to implement Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as Centre’s assistance under this programme was likely to go up substantially next year.

Attention was also drawn to the need for improved States’ support in implementing national horticulture mission and skill development mission. Proper market mechanisms need to be put in place to reduce wastage in perishable goods. States should come forward in supplementing Centre’s effort in skills development.

While referring to the performance of the State, Mr Bhattacharjee said the Government was pursuing employment-oriented growth strategy. Emphasis would continue on focused attention to agriculture, small and micro enterprises (SMEs) and development of physical and social infrastructure.