Plan panel approves Rs 1,430 cr Goa's plan

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) The Planning Commission today approved a Rs 1,430-crore plan for Goa for the year 2007-08.

The plan, which includes additional Central assistance of Rs 25 crore, could go up to Rs 1,595 crore, if the state government was able to raise another Rs 165 crore subject to certain court orders, a Planning Commission statement said.

During a meeting between panel's Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and State Chief Minister Digambar Kamat here, the Planning Commission complimented the State for achievements in literacy and poverty eradication.

Compared to the national average of 27.5 per cent of poverty, the State has poverty ratio of 13.8 per cent in 2004-05. Goa's literacy rate also increased from 75.51 per cent in 1991 to 82.32 per cent in 2001.

The panel, however, drew the State's attention to declining sex ratio and gender gap in work force, it added.

Briefing the Commission on the performance and objectives of the State, Mr Kamat said they were aiming to achieve standards of a developed nation by 2012, adding that the government was setting the required inforamtion technology infrastructure for moving towards a knowledge economy.

He said 100 per cent literacy would be achieved by 2010. Efforts were on to create investment-friendly climate with a view to creating more employment avenues, he added.

The Chief Minister pointed out that Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill had already been legislated in Goa and the state had achieved revenue plus position two years ahead of target.

Fiscal deficit was also brought under check and sinking fund established to manage debt burden, he added. His government was thinking of setting up a separate pension fund to take care of pension liabilities, Mr Kamat said.

UNI