New Delhi, March 25: The Annual Plan for Tripura for 2011-12 was finalised on Thursday at Rs.1,950 crore at a meeting here between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.
Initiating discussions on Tripura’s performance, Mr. Ahluwalia lauded the State Government for empowering panchayati raj institutions and the progress made in child health care. He said efforts should be made to improve upon the achievements in health and education sectors. An investment-friendly environment should be created to encourage private investment in the development of both physical and social infrastructure, he said.
The Commission, Mr. Ahluwalia said, was in the process of finalising the approach to the Twelfth Plan and would welcome suggestions from the State Government on the social sector programme initiated by the Centre to make them more effective. Sectors such as energy and health, he said, would need greater attention of both the State and the Centre to meet the growth expectation during the Plan period.
Briefing the Commission, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar spoke about the State Government’s new initiatives aimed at improving resources and reducing developmental expenditure. Tax revenue, he said, had improved and salary expenditure brought under control to improve the financial health of the State. Mr. Sarkar said efforts were on to make best use of the available natural resources, and skill development and vocational education were being given priority.
–Agencies