NE states must prepare its share of Indian dream: Jacob

Shillong, Mar 12 (UNI) Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob today urged the North Eastern states to prepare its share of the Indian dream to turn the country into a favourite investment hub.

Delivering his customary speech on the opening day of the Meghalaya's budget session, Mr Jacob said in the recent years, the Centre had paid special attention to the development of this region in various fields.

He said there were numerous central schemes and separate industrial policy to promote industries and developing infrastructure in the region.

In the end of 10th Five Year Plan, the Governor said Meghalaya had made substantial progress in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, industry and social services like education and health.

'' The overall annual growth during the 10th Plan has been about six per cent, '' Mr Jacob said.

On the 11th Five Year Plan, due to begin in April, Mr Jacob told the House that the state government had set a target of 7.3 per cent annual rate of growth.

To ensure economic development, the government had identified physical infrastructure as the most critical factor, he said.

'' Highest emphasis will be laid on road communication, power generation and transmission, '' the Governor said adding special emphasis will be laid on rural roads through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and electrification of villages under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana.

The government will also lay emphasis on education, health and other social services.

A beginning had already been made with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the National Rural Health Mission besides decentralising the Special Nutrition Programme to make it more effective.

To alleviate rural poverty, Mr Jacob said the Meghalaya Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme had already been initiated in the two districts of the state to enable all rural people willing to work to get at least 100 days of employment in a year.

The state government will endeavour to extend this programme to all the districts in the state during the 11th Plan and accord high priority to agriculture and allied activities, including agro -processing and marketing.

UNI