UT better than states in socio-eco sectors: Govt

New Delhi, Aug 3: Union territories are much better placed in socio-economic indicators like literacy, infant mortality rate, per capita income, per capita electricity consumption and population below poverty line when compared to their neighbouring states.

This was today highlighted in a presentation made by the Home Ministry at the Consultative Committee of the ministry on the subject of 'Administration in the Union Territories.' Home Minister Shivraj Patil chaired the meeting.

The presentation highlighted the legal and constitutional framework of the Union Territories, their financial status, the development initiatives taken in the last two years and response to natural calamities.

It also highlighted the fact that in most of the socio-economic indicators such as literacy, infant mortality rate (IMR), per capita income, per capita electricity consumption and population below the poverty line, all the Union Territories are much better placed compared to their neighbouring States. For instance, literacy rate in A&N Islands is 81% compared to 73% in Tamil Nadu. IMR in Chandigarh is 21 compared to 45 in Punjab and 61 in Haryana. Per capita income in Chandigarh is Rs. 57,000 compared to Rs. 27,000 in Punjab. Per Capital electricity consumption in Dadra&Nagar Haveli is over 7000 units compared to about 600 units in Maharashtra and 900 units in Gujarat.

A unique desalination plant has been successfully commissioned in Lakshadweep. This plant uses an indigenously developed technology based on the temperature difference between surface sea water and underground sea water. It has solved the drinking water problem of the Kavaratti Island of Lakshadweep. Similar Plants have been approved for the other Islands. The ambient air quality in Delhi has improved due to conversion of more than a lakh public transport vehicles into CNG and a network of flyovers have been constructed to ease traffic congestion, he informed.

The Members of Parliament participating in the Meeting appreciated the progress made by the Union Territories in comparison to the neighbouring States. However, they also articulated the need for having greater public participation in the governance of the UTs.

The Home Minister in his response stated that all the points made by the MPs will be properly analysed and appropriate responses will be presented in the next meeting of the Consultative Committee, which will have the same subject for discussion.

The Members present at the meeting included Debabrata Biswas, Dr K Malaisamy, Dr P C Alexander, Mahmood A Madani and Jai Prakash Agarwal of the Rajya Sabha and S/Shri Avtar Singh Bhadana, Madan Lal Sharma, Manoranjan Bhakta, Aditya Nath, Mohanbhai Delkar, Sarbananda Sonowal, Brajesh Pathak, S D Malik, Mohan Singh, Dhirendra Agrawal and Ms B. Susheela of the Lok Sabha.

Members representing UTs in both the Houses of Parliament were special invitees for this meeting. They included Shri V.

Narayanasamy from Rajya Sabha and Pawan Kumar Bansal, Dr P P Koya, Prof. M. Ramadoss, Sandip Dikshit, Sajjan Kumar, Dahya Bhai V. Patel and Smt Krishna Tirath of the Lok Sabha. Ministers of State for Home, Manik Rao Gavit, Sriprakash Jaiswal and S. Regupathy, Home Secretary, V.K. Duggal, Secretary (Border Management), B.S. Lalli and Special Secretary (IS) G S Rajagopal were among those present.

UNI