PM to review welfare schemes, reform process

New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting tomorrow with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and top officials to finalise measures to give a push to the flagship programmes of his 41-month-old government.

Official sources said apart from the populist schemes covered under the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP), including rural infrastructure, health and education, some of the pending economic reforms would also come up for a review.

The meeting is expected to issue broad guidelines for various ministries, responsible for the implementation of the schemes, to expedite work so that the benefits reach the target population without any delay.

The government recently made a series of announcements for the welfare of the farming community, including a hike in the minimum support price, and the minorities, after the Left parties had threatened to review their support to the UPA on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Among those who would attend the meeting are officials of Dr Singh representing various ministries.

UNI