Rajasthan no longer a 'Bimaru' state : Governor

Jaipur, March 1 (UNI) Despite constraints of resources and adverse climatic conditions, Rajasthan has been able to shed the tag of a 'Bimaru' state and was marching on the path of all-round development, Governor Pratiba Patil said in her address to the Budget Session of the Assembly, which began here today.

Lauding the efforts of the state government, the Governor said, ''The state has has become an important destination for foreign and domestic investment.'' She said due to effective fiscal management by the government the budgetary and fiscal deficits have been drastically reduced in the last three years.

A huge allocation of over Rs 68,000 crore has been made for the 11th Five Year Plan which is more than the combined total allocation in the last three Plans, she added.

The Governor said the anual plan outlay of Rs 11,638 crore for the year 2006-07 is higher than the total allocation of Rs 11,500 crore for the eighth Five Period period.

Due to better fiscal management the state was able to get rid of over draft and advance from RBI after 2004 leaving the government with enough money to undertake big capital investment in infrastrcuture and human resource development, the Governor pointed out.

UNI