The Annual Plan for 2013-14 for the State of Puducherry was finalised today at a meeting between Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and Sh. N. Rangasamy, Chief Minister of Puducherry. The Plan size has been agreed at Rs.2,000 crore which includes the central assistance to the State Plan of about Rs.783 crore. In addition, an amount of about Rs.100 crore is likely to flow from the Centre to Puducherry through various Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Thus, Plan funding from the Central Government to the State of Puducherry, from all sources, is expected to be over Rs.883crore during 2013-14.
Sh. Ahluwalia said that the Planning Commission is keen to improve efficiency of Centrally Sponsored schemes and with this purpose a proposal for restructuring the schemes has been approved by the central Government which permits flexibility in the guidelines. Sh. Ahluwalia said that he would be writing to all chief ministers shortly to communicate this decision as well as requesting them to come forward with the flexibilities which they consider essential for better implementation of these schemes.
In his comments on the performance of the Union Territory, Mr Ahluwalia said that the Union Territory has been achieving satisfactory progress and development strategy was in right track. He said good progress has been achieved in health and education sectors. The State needs to focus on finding new avenues of revenue generation to meet future demands. Tourism and infrastructure are the areas which need special attention of the Government. He said public private partnership in these sectors has to be encouraged and necessary steps should be taken to facilitate private partnership.
Sh. Ahluwalia said the UT of Puducherry continues to perform better in all the development indicators and remain in higher position compared to the corresponding all India average. Puducherry’s strengths are higher per capita income (Rs.81,469), higher GSDP growth rate (9.0 per cent during 11th Plan) higher literacy level (86.55 per cent), lower BPL population (1.2 per cent) and availability of adequate health infrastructure etc. The administration requires to redouble its efforts in the Twelfth Five Year Plan to achieve the targets and for accomplishing the goal of faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth.
During 11th Five Year Plan the average growth rate of Industry sector in Puducherry has been 8.7 per cent which is higher than the corresponding All India figure of 7.2 per cent. However, more emphasis should be given to Industry since the percentage share of this sector in Gross State Domestic Product has declined from 50.2 per cent in 2004-05 to 48.5 per cent in 2011-12.
In order to create a pool of skilled personnel in appropriate numbers with adequate skill in line with the employment requirements across the entire country, the government launched the Skill Development Mission during the 11th Five Year Plan. One of the monitorable targets of 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) is generation of 50 million new work opportunities in the non-farm sector and skill certification of equivalent numbers during the 12th Five Year Plan. Puducherry Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (PIPDIC) should initiate skill development mission in Puducherry.
Mr. Ahluwalia said adequate investment in the development of infrastructure is a prerequisite for higher growth. While complementing the Government for encouraging PPP in development of social and physical infrastructure, he said efforts should continue to create an enabling environment to promote investment in infrastructure.
Briefing the Commission on plan performance, Mr Rangasamy said efforts to improve fiscal position continue and during the current fiscal both tax and non-tax revenue is expected to grow by 24 per cent. He said new initiative proposed for the year include around 200 project in PPP mode estimated to cost nearly Rs. 2,000 crore, renewable energy project and renewed thrust to encourage both domestic and international tourism. He said new industrial policy has been approved by the cabinet, which is expected to further incentivise investment in the Union territory.