Will focus on infra, inclusive growth: Motek Singh

New Delhi, Jun 6: Montek Singh Ahulwalia, who was reappointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission on Saturday, Jun 6 said the commission would focus on infrastructure development and inclusive growth.

"President's address has given much emphasis on infrastructure, when we say growth it is inclusive growth. We will have to strengthen the infrastructure," he told reporters after the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) cleared his reappointment as Plan panel's chief.

Ahulwalia has scripted history by becoming the first person to be re-appointed as the Plan panel Deputy Chairman for a second consecutive term. On his re-appointment, Ahluwalia said, "It is a great honour to be asked to serve again and I look forward to getting down to work with new members of the Commission."

He added that the last two years saw a number of social sector initiatives of the UPA government including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Gram Sadak Yojana, Indira Awas Yojana and National Rural Health Mission.

Soon after the Lok Sabha Polls, Ahulwalia emerged as Manmohan Singh's favourite candidate for the post of new Union Finance Minister. It was at this time that he resigned from his post as the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, although he denied that it had anything to do with Manmohan Singh pitching for him as the FM.

ANI