Annual Plan size for Madhya Pradesh for the year 2011-12 was approved today at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Plan outlay for the year was agreed at Rs.23000 crores.
In his comments on the performance of the State, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Mr Ahluwalia said the State has been performing well and new initiatives are being taken to improve pace of growth specially in the development of physical and social infrastructure. He said positive indications are there but the need is to further improve pace.Mr Ahluwalia said the Commission is finalizaing approach to the 12th plan and State Government should come forward with suggestions which would help us in filling the gaps in the growth process and improve implementation. The State’s GSDP in the first three years of the Eleventh Five Year Plan period is 7.6%. The State should further close the gap between the per capita NSDP and the national average.
The share of the agriculture sector in Madhya Pradesh has reduced from close to 30% in 1999-00 to about 22%in 2009-10. There has been only a light variation in the share of industry over this time period, retaining its share at about 24-25% between 1990-00 and 2008-09. The share of the services sector has increased by about 6 percentage points from about 46% in 1990-00 to 52% in 2008-09.
The Commission drew State’s attention to the poverty estimates made by the expert group which has put number of people below poverty line at 49% in the State. Another revelation is that between 1993-1994 and 2004-05, the poverty headcount ratio both in urban and rural areas has actually increased by about 9% and 10% respectively. It suggested that inclusiveness should be at the centre of development policy.
Planning Commission Complemented the State Government for rolling out the decentralized planning process in the entire 50 district. The move will help in enhancing the production and productivity of agriculture and allied sectors, traditional and small industries with focus on creation of employment opportunities and alleviation of poverty.
Briefing the commission on the plan performance, Chief Minister Chouhan said the state was all set to meet target for the 11th plan. Expenditure realization is going to be more than 100% and outstanding liabilities likely to come down from 36% to 32.11%. Number of new initiatives including cheap loans has been taken to improve to growth in the agriculture sector. He said MNREGA has been utilized for improving irrigation facility. The Chief Minister sought Planning Commission support for creation of additional storage capacity and inclusion of 11 more districts in the horticulture mission.
He said despite poverty efforts are on to improve human development index. New initiatives have been taken to improve economic activity in the rural areas. These include creation of livelihood opportunities through employment, mobile banking initiatives and Mukhay Mantri Gramin Avas Mission.
The Chief Minister said that employment under MNREGA should be expended to 200 days. In the first instance it should be done in the Tribal districts. Villages having population up to 750 should be connected through roads under Pradhan Mantri Sarak Yajana.
Poverty Declines !
We must believe Montek Singh Ahluwalia ( Deputy Chairman – Planning Commission of India ), when he says poverty declined during 2007 – 2012.
Poverty in India, according to him, came down from 37 % ( in 2004 ) to 32 % ( in 2009 ).
Now, that is 70 million people !
It is another story that the Supreme Court of India, criticized the Planning Commission for employing the daily expenditure criteria for deciding the “ Below Poverty Line – BPL “ people as those whose daily expenditure ( on food / shelter / clothing ) is less than,
Rs.12 ( $ 0.26 ) in rural areas
Rs.17 ( $ 0.38 ) in urban areas
In the next Plan Period ( 2012 – 2017 ), how about pulling-up 200 million people above the poverty line by changing the daily expenditure criteria to
Rs.7 ( $ 0.15 ) in rural areas
Rs.12 ( 0.26 ) in urban areas
Montek may want to “ export “ this innovation to other poor countries.
With regards
hemen parekh
Jobs for All = Peace on Earth