by Punjabnewswire4u
NEW DELHI, DEC 27
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today
emphasized the need to change the policy orientation by initiating new methods
to measure development keeping in view the well-being of people as a pivot of
nation’s planning process.
These views were expressed by the Chief Minister while
addressing the 57th meeting of the National Development Council
(NDC) on the draft of 12th Five Year Plan chaired by the Prime
Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here at Vigyan Bhawan. He said, “We have achieved
high growth rate in the economy in terms of infrastructure development, capital
intensive industrialization and high investment however large sections of
people have remained excluded from the growth story.”
The Chief Minister exhorted the planners to endeavor for
achieving the envisioned growth by evolving a growth strategy focused at
reducing disparities within regions, within states and within rural and urban
population in each state. Mr Badal unequivocally said the main focus of
planning should be to look beyond the GDP growth rates and per capita incomes
to ensure comprehensive policies aimed at citizen’s well being. Quoting Prime
Minister he said, “We need a new wave of creative thinking on these issues. Old
way of thinking has run their course.” adding that Mr Badal said that these
words must be put into practice by making the plans need based and giving priority
to human welfare.
The Chief Minister lamented the country had been unable
to cope up with the problems of poverty, unemployment besides providing basic
amenities like education, healthcare, drinking water etc. even after 60 years
of planning. Mr Badal pointed out the current economic model had focused more
on growth rate rather than human development which resulted in the decline of
the overall human development index of the country from 127 in 2005 to 134 in
2011. He said the position of country’s Human Development indicators was quite
dismal as compared to other countries as these indicators continued to be lower
in contrast with other countries India ranked 125th in per capita
income, 109th in unemployment, 149th in illiteracy, 153rd
in Infant mortality rate and 56th in poverty besides it figured
amongst the top 15 hunger stricken nations.
The Chief Minister mentioned though the country has
implemented 11 Five Year Plans since independence, and the focus of the latest
11th Five Year Plan was “Faster and Inclusive Growth”, yet the
country and its people face many challenges. Mr Badal bemoaned that as
per latest definition of poverty of per capita per day expenditure of Rs 26 and
Rs 32 in rural and urban areas, 29.8% of the population continued to be below
the poverty line. He said that the current economic model which focused
on higher growth had resulted in inequalities and the gap between the rich and
poor was ever widening thereby a large chunk of population like Scheduled
Castes, minorities and people in rural areas have remained excluded from the
growth story.
The Chief Minister rued that since independence; the
federal structure of the country had been gradually diluted thereby paving a
way for strengthening of unitary system. Mr Badal said that funds were given to
the states in a tied manner through Central schemes which never served the
desired purposes of the state in order to meet the needs of the people.
Highlighting the faulty formula of devolution of funds to the state, he said
the Center took away major share of 68% of the total taxes collected thereby
leaving the states with only 32% adding that a state like Punjab got merely
1.39%. The Chief Minister pleaded for genuine federalism which could be the
only panacea for all such ills.
Urging the Government of India to immediately help the
state in promoting farm diversification, the Chief Minister demanded a
technology mission for 'Diversification of Agriculture with an allocation of Rs
5000 crore for green revolution states on the lines of Rs 4000 crore 'Bringing
Green Revolution to Eastern India' (BGREI) to be included in the 12th Five
Year Plan. Mr Badal also urged the GoI to release the relief package forthwith
as promised by it to bail out the Punjab farmers and the state government in
the wake of drought like conditions during Kharif-2012.
The Chief Minister stated that in Kharif 2012, despite
42% deficit rainfall the state and farmers ensured a bumper production of 133
lakh metric tons of marketable paddy at a huge extra cost. Subsequently, the
Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Mr Sharad Pawar announced a drought relief
package, which had not been provided to Punjab till date rather the state was
apprised that the central government would soon withdraw from the purchase of
Wheat and Paddy therefore Mr Badal said that the diversification was the only
way out and it could only be possible with a strong support from the GoI. Apart
from this he also demanded a remunerative MSP and assured marketing system for
alternative crops Maize, Soyabean, Cotton and Sugarcane etc to give a fillip to
the much needed farm diversification program in the state. The Chief Minister
also impressed upon the Centre to treat Animal Husbandry activities like diary,
poultry, fishery, piggery etc. at par with agriculture for exemption from
income tax, interest rates etc. Mr Badal also asked the centre to give liberal
fixed annual grants to the leading agricultural universities for research.
Outlining the scenario of agriculture in the state, the
Chief Minister said that 69% of the population was dependent on Agriculture for
their livelihood besides provided food security to the nation. He said
77% of the people were engaged in agriculture and contributed 43% to the GSDP,
in 1971 adding that now, 69% of people are still dependent on agriculture but
their contribution has come down drastically to 14%, showing their
deteriorating economic condition. Mr Badal said that Agriculture was facing
serious crisis and was no longer a remunerative preposition. Moreover the MSP has
not also kept pace with the rising cost of agriculture inputs. He said that
farmers were abandoning agriculture and as per a minister’s statement in the
Parliament 2.90 lakh farmers have committed suicides in the last 15 years.
Consequently the number of small farmers had considerably decreased from
5 to 3 lakhs in the state. Mr Badal revealed that Punjab farmers were reeling
under a whopping debt of Rs 35000 crore
Dwelling on the major initiatives to boost Power sector
in the state, the Chief Minister said that three thermal power plants of 3920
MW capacity were likely to be commissioned between May, 2013 and May,
2014. However, he said that Coal India Limited has expressed its inability
to provide full coal linkage therefore the GoI should ask the state having
access to ports to import coal whereas the landlocked states like Punjab should
be provided with full coal linkage by Coal India.
Referring to the industrial scenario in Punjab, the Chief
Minister said that despite availability of power, excellent infrastructure and
complete Industrial peace and harmony, the state had a disadvantage due to its
landlocked location with a hostile border adding that prolonged militancy,
abolition of freight equalization policy and tax concessions to neighboring states
have further contributed to decline in industrial growth. Mr Badal envisaged
some specific measures needed to be taken during the next five year plan for
the rejuvenation and revival of the industry in the state adding he urged upon
the GoI to extend Delhi – Mumbai Industrial Corridor and Eastern Freight
Corridor upto Amritsar (Attari Border). Apart from this the Chief Minister
demanded that Punjab, being an agricultural state, should be provided
assistance for agro-processing industries with the same incentives as given to
neighboring hill states. In a bid to boost the cross border trade between India
and Pakistan in a big way, Mr Badal asked the Centre to permit trade in all
about 6,000 items being traded between Mumbai – Karachi sea route through the
land route at ICP Attari. Likewise, he also impressed the GoI to persuade
Pakistan for granting MFN status to India and to allow trade to the Central
Asian countries through land route.
The Chief Minister pleaded for restoring the earlier
formula in terms of weightage for area and fuel consumption in the ratio of
40:60, which has now been changed to 70:30, thereby depriving the state
government from its legitimate share in Central Road Fund (CRF). Mr Badal
recalled Punjab contributed about Rs 600 crore per year in terms of levy of
cess of Rs. 1.5 per litre on diesel and petrol to CRF.
Listing the priorities in Health sector, the Chief
Minister pointed out that the state has recorded sharp decline in Infant
Mortality Rate from 44 in 2006 to 30 in 2011. He said that GoI has rated health
infrastructure in the state as excellent however as per latest 2011 census,
there was requirement of additional 513 Sub Centres which needed sanction by
the Union Government. Welcoming the
decision of Government of India for upgradation of selected district hospitals
for tertiary care during the 12th plan period, Mr Badal said that
the National Urban Health Mission should be launched immediately without any
further delay. The Chief Minister urged
GoI to assist the state in up-gradation of Government Medical College, Patiala.
He also applauded the Union Ministry of Health’s decision for enhancing the
number of MBBS and PG seats in Government Medical Colleges and liberalizing the
norms for establishment of new medical colleges across the state.
On the Education front, the Chief Minister said that the
concerted efforts of state government resulted in securing first position in
Education Development Index for Punjab amongst the major states in year
2011-2012 as compared to 14th position in 2006-07. However Mr Badal
said that the rural population was badly hit due to disparities in both the
quality of life as well as of education between the rural and urban sectors.
Laying stress on the need of providing equal opportunities to the rural
students especially in this age of competition, he advocated that sincere
efforts should be made to offer enormous opportunities of affordable quality
education to the bright and meritorious students particularly in the rural
areas. Henceforth the Chief Minister demanded that the GoI should set up fully
residential schools for free quality education to the talented and intelligent
students of the rural areas.
Seeking top priority for the skill development of the
youth particularly from the rural areas, the Chief Minister demanded that the
12th Five Year plan should lay major thrust on it to enable our youth
gainfully employed. He said that the state government had already finalized the
sites for 247 centers out of the proposed 250 skill development centers in
first phase adding that now the Centre should expedite the implementation of
this decision. Besides the GoI should assist the state in setting up of 73 new
ITIs in the blocks where at present there is no government ITI, added Mr Badal.
Showing concern over the welfare of Schedule Castes and
Backward classes, the Chief Minister said that no criterion had been laid so
far for giving due weightage to the state in the devolution of central taxes
for the well being of this important segment of society despite Punjab had the
highest SC population of 31%. He said that Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana
was launched in 2009-10 for villages having more than 50% of Scheduled Caste
population however no village in the state has been covered under this scheme.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Finance Minister Mr
Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Vice Chairman Punjab State Planning Board Mr Rajinder
Gupta, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr SK Sandhu and Special Principal
Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema.
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