Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia complimented the State for the efforts being made to accelerate development and also for making optimum use of the resources available. He said the economic indicators are showing positive trend and momentum for development is visible. Per capita expenditure on development has gone up. Initiatives aimed at development of women and child was appreciated. New initiatives in education sector including setting up of new universities were appreciated.
Attention was drawn to high T & D losses and decrease in dense cover of forest. The State was advised to introduce capacity building programmes in the forest sector and also actions aimed at reducing transmission and distribution losses. The State was asked to link forests resources with agriculture income of people living in rural areas and also encourage role of women in agriculture. Focused attention to develop horticulture, tourism and power were suggested.
Briefing the Commission on the performance of the State, the Chief Minister said the growth rate was showing upward trend with per capita own tax revenue and non-tax revenue better than the national average. He said the expenditure realization is almost 100 per cent. Health, education, social welfare and agriculture were been given priority. The State was encouraging public / private partnership in all possible areas including health and infrastructure.
He said efforts are being intensified to develop infrastructure and create more opportunities for employment. In road development private partnership is being encouraged. A sectoral strategy has been worked out for encouraging self-employment and wage-employment. Enabling environment is being created for which major policy initiatives have been taken in industrial, agriculture and tourism sector.