Chief Minister's Discussion with Union Ministers and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission at New Delhi
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Orissa Review * May-June - 2010 Chief Minister's Discussion with Union Ministers and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission at New Delhi Orissa's Annual Plan Size Fixed at Rs.11,000 Crore Aims at Sustainable Broad Based Inclusive Growth. In the meeting with Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission at New Delhi held on 20th April, 2010, Hon¶ble Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik discussed proposals for Annual Plan : 2010-11 and stated that Orissa has made commendable efforts to improve fiscal health and plan performance and to create investor- friendly environment for attracting private investments. He informed that Orissa¶s development strategies aim at sustainable broad-based inclusive growth, scaling up investments in agriculture and allied sectors, creating more opportunities for employment and livelihoods for all and particularly for youth, strengthening social security net particularly for people Below Poverty Line and marginalized communities, reducing regional and social disparities, and improving productive infrastructure including Bijli, Sadak and Pani. Hon¶ble Chief Minister stressed that because of consistent and focused efforts, Orissa was able to achieve an average annual real growth rate of 9.51 per cent during the 10th Plan against the target of 6.20 per cent per annum and aims to maintain the tempo during the 11th Plan period. He highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the State Government to achieve higher broad-based inclusive growth, faster overall development of the people of Orissa and accelerated poverty reduction. He stated that Orissa has taken specific steps to improve the delivery mechanism and outreach of public services resulting in progressively increasing Annual Plan sizes. Orissa has increased its Annual Plan Outlays by more than four times from Rs.2,500 crore in 2004-05 to Rs.11,000 crore in 2010-11. 104 Orissa Review * May-June - 2010 He endorsed the initiative on right to education and urged Planning Commission to convene a meeting of National Development Council (NDC) as early as possible to discuss and devise modalities for substantial central funding for this rights based human development initiative. He requested for a special dispensation of Rs.300 crore a year for Orissa portion of Ranchi- Vijayawada Highway till the completion of the project. He further stressed the following issues: (i) Expeditious approval of an 8-Year Perspective Plan of Rs.4,550 crore for development saturation of the KBK region of Orissa, that has been prepared in consultation with Planning Commission and submitted to them for approval and pending approval of the Perspective Plan, immediate increase in the Special Central Assistance from Rs.130 crore to Rs.500 crore a year for the KBK region for the year 2010-11. (ii) Appropriate modifications in the guidelines for APDRP-II so that the States like Orissa which have been adversely impacted because of pioneering Power Sector Reforms should also benefit. (iii) Inclusion of Orissa for implementation of the Central Government initiative for development of pulses and oilseeds. (iv) Allocation of 500 MW of power from the Central Un-allocated Share and NTPC Kaniha Stage II to Orissa to help address the current power deficit situation in the state. Hon¶ble Deputy Chairman and other Members of the Planning Commission lauded the initiatives and efforts of Orissa Government for achieving significantly higher growth rates and cent percent utilization of Plan funds. They held that some of the initiatives such as System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as undertaken by the State, which aims to increase productivity while lowering costs of production, deserves to be scaled up and replicated by other States. While appreciating significant achievements in almost all sectors, Hon¶ble Deputy Chairman / Members of the Planning Commission noted that the State has the potential to further improve by focusing and enhancing its efforts in social sectors. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission also advised that accomplishments of the State during last five to seven years need to be disseminated to the larger public through awareness drives. Hon¶ble Chief Minister thanked the Planning Commission for supporting Orissa¶s development efforts and the increased plan size. Hon¶ble Chief Minister, Orissa meets Hon¶ble Union Agriculture Minister In the meeting with Hon¶ble Union Minister for Agriculture, Shri Sharad Pawar, at New Delhi held on 21st April 2010, Hon¶ble Chief Minister, Orissa, Shri Naveen Patnaik, discussed various issues of concern facing the State. Hon¶ble Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that the State was facing an acute storage constraint on account of inadequate movement of surplus rice by Food Corporation of India (FCI). In addition, he stated that the States¶ resource capacity to provide relief to the calamity affected population 105 Orissa Review * May-June - 2010 has been seriously constrained because of non-release of Rs.2687 crore for 2008 floods affected population and Rs.2257 crore sought for 2009 drought/flood affected population under the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF). Hon¶ble Chief Minister informed that even the committed amount of Rs.500 crore announced by the Central Govt. for 2008 victims has not been released and that the State has been provided with just about Rs.99 crore. Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to appreciate the difficulties faced by the State and take urgent action in respect of the following: Moving out of the surplus procured rice of about 9 lakh MT to outside the State during next 8 months starting from April 2010 in view of severe storage capacity in the State. Release of balance committed amount of about Rs.401 crore under NCCF, committed for 2008 flood victims. Consider providing adequate resources under NCCF for 2008 flood affected population (Rs.2687 crore) and for 2009 drought/flood affected population (Rs.2257 crore). Sanction additional 25000 households under Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) for Kandhamal district. Hon¶ble Union Minister appreciated the concerns of the State and assured that FCI would take necessary measures to move out the surplus rice to ensure that further Rabi procurement does not get hampered in the State. He informed that the matter regarding adequate release of funds under NCCF is under active consideration of the High level Committee headed by the Union Finance Minister. On the issue of additional beneficiaries under AAY, the Union Minister assured to look into the matter favourably. Hon¶ble Chief Minister, Orissa meets Hon¶ble Union Rural Development Minister In the meeting with Dr. C. P. Joshi, Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj at New Delhi held on 21st April 2010, Hon¶ble Chief Minister, Orissa. Shri Naveen Patnaik, discussed various issues of concern facing the State. He informed that the State has been making concerted efforts to implement all Rural Development Programmes aimed at creating rural infrastructure, generating employment, alleviating poverty and providing basic minimum needs to the people including social security to the vulnerable with the objective to achieve balanced and equitable development of the State. 106 Orissa Review * May-June - 2010 Hon¶ble Chief Minister stated that despite best efforts by the State, performance under some of the rural development programmes has been adversely affected on account of either delay in the release of funds or inadequate releases by Government of India. He brought to the attention of the Union Minister that the State was facing an acute resource crunch under many Central Government programmes including Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). He mentioned that there exists a need to review some of the ongoing programmes as these require scaling up or change in norms to achieve optimal results. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to appreciate specific concerns of Orissa and to take urgent action in respect of the following: Release of Rs.2,500 crore during 2010-11 under PMGSY and immediate release of Rs.500 crore during April, 2010. Revision of project costs for projects sanctioned under PMGSY to account for increase in cost of material etc. over last 10 years. Provision of Rs.1,908 crore during 2010-11 under NREGS taking into account the revised wage rate for unskilled labour. To double the assistance under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) from existing Rs.20 crore per district to Rs.40 crore. Reduction in age limit to 60 years under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (IGNOAP) Scheme and to 18 years under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension (IGNWP) Scheme along with amending definition of disabled, for wider coverage. Sanction at least Rs.400 crore under NRDWP. Hon¶ble Union Minister while appreciating the concerns raised by Hon¶ble Chief Minister assured to consider the specific concerns of Orissa. He assured that the central funds will flow fimely to the State as per the norms. 107 Orissa Review * May-June - 2010 Hon¶ble Chief Minister, Orissa meets Hon¶ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways In the meeting with Shri Kamal Nath, Hon¶ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways at New Delhi, held on 23rd April 2010, Hon¶ble Chief Minister, Orissa, Shri Naveen Patnaik, discussed various issues of concern facing the State for development of Road infrastructure. Hon¶ble Chief Minister informed the Hon¶ble Union Minister that the State has taken all possible measures to develop the road network within the State, for the balanced development of all sectors and for removing regional disparities. He added that adequate funds are being provisioned in the State Budget each year to ensure uninterrupted implementation of various on-going road projects in the State. Hon¶ble Chief Minister stated that despite sincere efforts made by the State during last 5 to 7 years, there still exists large gaps in the road infrastructure, adversely affecting the process of industrialization and development in the State.