Mizoram sees 17.65% increase in annual plan

Aizawl, Jan 14 (UNI) The Mizoram annual plan for 2008-09 at Rs 1,000 crore has seen a 17.65 per cent increase from the last year's ten per cent increase, official sources said here today.

The Planning Commission alloted an increased amount in response to Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga's request as the state was facing acute crisis of food following Mautam famine.

The plan includes an additional central assistance of Rs 70 crore for projects of special interest for the state, sources added.

The chief minister further said the priorities of 11th Plan as well as holistic development have been kept in mind while formulating the annual plan 2008-09.

He said that agriculture and its allied sectors and rural development, employment generation and poverty eradication would be priority of the annual plan.

He said the state was facing food crisis as no harvesting could be done because of massive bamboo flowering.

The state government was also expecting additional help under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to cope up with the famine like situation.

Planning Commission Deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia also announced that the NREGS will cover the entire state of Mizoram from this April.

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