Public-private partnership in infra devp focussed

Mysore, Dec 26: Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajashekaran today said the draft proposal of the 11th five-year plan gave thrust to public-private partnership (PPP) in infrastructure development of the country.

Delivering the keynote address at the 37th national seminar on valuation of all types of assets, organised by the Institution of Valuers of India here, he said PPP was most vital for the economical growth of the country and the Union Government, in its efforts to push the PPP system for infrastrustcture development in the rural and backward areas where it was yet to take off, had given thrust to balanced and sustained economic growth in the 11th five-year plan.

No Government programme would be successful without the involvement of private sector with the public sector, he added.

Mr Rajashekaran said that by the year 2020, 50 per cent of the population in rural areas were going to be in the valuation circuit.

Valuers and their role were vital in an era when the country had been witnessing tremendous growth in industry and production. The Ayurveda industry in the country had a turnover of Rs 48,000 crore and it would increase threefold during the next few years, he noted, adding that even the World Bank had paid rich tributes to India's growing economy.

He said the country was leading in the manufacture of automobiles due to abundant talent and growth of science and technology. With advancement of science and technology, the country had become a major power in the world. Indian talent was in high demand and the country was becoming a destination for valuers.

The Minister called upon the valuers to strive for preservation of Indian value system as mere evaluation of movable and immovable assets was not just a job.

About 300 delegates from all over the country were taking part in the three-day seminar.

UNI