Rane govt completes one year in office

Panaji, June 6 (UNI) Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane today completed one year in office and reiterated his commitment to hasten socio-economic development in the state and foster communal harmony.

Mr Rane was speaking after releasing a 91-page book ''Achievements'', brought out by the state Information and Publicity Department, here today.

''We have to contain forces that are engaged in dividing the society and destroying the secular fabric of Goans,'' Mr Rane said.

Assuring that the government was committed to provide transparent administration, the Chief Minister said his Cabinet colleagues believed in ''working hard without fanfare''.

While pointing out that 50 per cent of the current annual budget had been earmarked for social security, Mr Rane listed various welfare schemes such as free mediclaim and insurance cover to various segments of people.

Mr Rane also assured that the government would go ahead with the new schemes such as Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana, Kanya Dhan and Bachpan besides the proposed Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

The Chief Minister enumerated various projects such as setting up of a mega convention centre to accommodate more than 4000 people, a cruise terminal, mono rail project and the north-south express corridor that would go a long way in boosting tourism.

Efforts were also being made to boost information technology and to generate employment for the youth while thrust was also being given to agriculture, including horticulture and floriculture, to benefit the farmers, he said.

Village panchayats and municipal councils were being empowered under the provisions of the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution, he said.

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