Four pc growth in agriculture must for inclusive growth: Montek

New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) The strategy for faster and more inclusive growth presents formidable challenges and requires determined action in the fields of agriculture, employement generation, infrastructure, labour reforms and education, said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today.

Mr Ahluwalia first of all emphasised four per cent growth in agriculture is is very important because that is where a very large number of poor people earn their sustenance.

The other important aspect of inclusiveness is that when the growth process takes off, the dispersion of skills across the population (is not uniform). It is essential to revamp the educational system.

Mr Ahluwalia called for the improvement in the quality of education and accountability of teachers at the ground level.

Currently, a few centrally sponsored programmes for kno/wledge enhancement are underway. Most of these have been launched recently.

The labour ministry's Rs 550-crore project for upgradation of the teaching staff of ITIs and the HRD ministry's scheme for quality enhancement of about 1,100 polytechnics are examples.

Mr Ahluwalia, however, said the biggest impediment to India growth story and inclusive growth was the inadequate policy for infrastructure. He said the smaller and mid-sized firms in the country were affected the most due to poor infrastructure.

Mr Ahluwalia also called for greater flexibility in labour laws and said he has been speaking to various labour unions on the issue.

UNI