Maharashtra Information Centre, New Delhi. Press Release: Maharashtra Succeeds at Retaining Growth Rate Assures of Maintaining Growth Rate Through Sustained Efforts Ashok Chavan New Delhi, July 24, 2010: With a view to meet the aspirations and expectations of the people from the Government which, is in its fiftieth Year of State formation, we would continue working hard to speed up the development on all fronts and prioritize the implementation of the Flagship Programmes, assured the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan here on Saturday. Maharashtra would continue to spearhead in contributing to Country’s financial growth, assured Chavan. The Chief Minister presented a review at the Fifty Fifth Meeting of the National Development Council at Vigyan Bhavan, here today. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh presided over the Chair. Addressing the Council meet, Dr. Singh urged all the States’ Chief Ministers to concentrate on their state’s inclusive growth and ensure that the tangible benefits to the weaker sections, the SC/ST, minorities and other excluded groups are availed by them. Sharing the dais were Union Ministers – Pranab Mukherjee (Finance), Sharad Pawar (Agriculture), P.Chidambaram (Home), Ghulam Nabi Azad (Health), Kapil Sibal (HRD), Dy. Chairman of Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and MoS for Planning, V. Narayanswamy. A Mid Term Appraisal of the 11 th Five Year Plan (FYP) was organized to review the performances of the States in which all the States’ Chief Ministers and Senior Government Officials were present. Speaking on the review of the performance of the Flagship Programmes and other developmental projects in the State, Chavan apprised that a Two-Tier monitoring system at the State level and at the district level has been initiated. At State level, a decision to adopt the Performance Management and Evaluation System (PMES) has been taken to evaluate the outcome of the programmes prioritized by the departments, informed Chavan. In the 10 th FYP, the state exhibited a growth rate of 8.6%. It climbed to almost 10% in the first two years of 11 th FYP but, due to global crisis it dipped, but later due to Centre’s and State’s various measures it could be maintained to 8.6%. Shri Chavan said that, the state has taken several measures to increase its own income and to contain non-plan expenditure in order to make more resources available for planned development. To generate additional revenues, the rate of VAT has been increased on the lower taxed category of goods from 4% to 5%. The government is also expecting higher revenue due to the recent hike in petroleum products at national level. Also, the state government has imposed a freeze on the fresh recruitments excepting essential posts so as to increase the plan size for 2010-11 substantially, informed chavan. The government has intervened to stabilize the inflated prices of essential food grains, and through PDS, it has been distributing wheat, rice, dal, sugar and edible oil to BPL and APL families. The scheme has been extended uptil September 2010. The government expends Rs 110 crore every month for stability of prices. Apprising on the regional development, chavan said that to promote all round development of all regions, a special development programme for Vidarbha, Marathwada, Konkan and Khandesh regions has been approved. These would incorporate implementation of on going as well as several new initiatives. Allocation to Marathwada 1853 cr, Vidarbha 10000 cr, Konkan 5311 cr and Khandesh 6509 cr has been made so far. A special allocation of Rs 1387 cr has been made for Naxal affected areas. Touching the sensitive issue of Left Wing Extremism in Gadchiroli and some parts of Gondia, chavan said that several steps like a special plan for Gadchiroli district with 25 specific points and estimated cost of Rs 189 Crore was approved to strengthen revenue and forest administration, employment generation etc. The state government has been considering giving rights over Bamboo and promote SHGs in collecting Tendu leaves and Beedi manufacturing. Thanking the Planning Committee for sending a special study team for LWE districts, the chief minister informed that a plan of Rs 520.60 cr has been prepared for Gadchiroli and an Integrated Action Plan of Rs 392.67 cr by Gondia district. Shri Chavan also touched key issues like education, health services, agriculture, urbanization, infrastructure etc. and informed that the State has been benefited from the Central Sponsored Schemes. Shri Chavan informed that Maharashtra has more than 85% cultivable land area under rain-fed agriculture. A Water Shed Development Mission has been launched for backward areas of Vidarbha and Marathwada. A proposal for permitting the activities regarding in- situ water conservation on private lands under NREGA has been sent to GoI. Shri Chavan urged for increased allocation under micro-irrigation. To continue adopting the mitigating strategies for another three years with regards to water shed development and horticulture, the state government be given an assistance of Rs 7262 cr, requested Chavan. The level of urbanization in Maharashtra is one of the highest (42.40%) in the country, said chavan. He urged for 100% grant for Mithi River Development Project under JNNURM on the lines of Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drainage Project. India’s first Monorail is on the verge of commission. First Phase of Metro Projects has completed and second phase would complete in 2013. In order to complete this time bound projects, Chavan requested for timely assistance from Centre. The proceedings of the meeting included Mid Term Appraisal of the 11 th FYP and a Draft proposal for 12 th FYP. Present in the meeting from Maharashtra were Finance Minister, Sunil Tatkare, Chief Secretary J.P.Dange, Resident Commissioner, Dr. Amitabh Rajan and Principal Secretary to CM, A.K.Jain. ************ .