Puducherry Annual Plan 2010-11 finalized

The Plan outlay for the Union Territory of Puducherry for the year 2010-11 was finalized, here today, at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Chief Minister of Puducherry, Shri V. Vaithilingam. The Plan size for the UT for the current year was agreed at Rs.2500 crores. This includes additional Central assistance of Rs.50 crores for state specific projects.

Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia appreciated development efforts of the UT government. He said efforts for improving both social and physical infrastructure are commendable. The State should work towards early completion of on-going infrastructure projects. Private sector should be encouraged for more pro-active participation in the development of infrastructure related to tourism and water sports.

The performance of the UT is reflected in the growth of Gross Domestic Product which has increased from Rs.3235 crore to Rs.8110 crore at the constant (1999-2000) prices. The per capita NSDP at constant (1999-2000) prices increased from Rs.30486 in 1999-2000 to Rs.58755 in 2008-09.

The Union Minister of State for Planning and Programme Implementation Mr. Narayansamy said that the UT should take pro-active measures for development of service sector as the sector has enormous potential for economic growth and employment opportunities. He said private sector participation in human related services needs to be increasingly tapped. The Minister was of the opinion that increasing shift to horticulture, floriculture, inland fisheries and cottage industry should be encouraged. Natural resource based integrated farming system model with crop diversification and livestock integration needs to be promoted.

The poverty level of Puducherry is lower than the national average both in urban and rural areas. The rural poverty is estimated at 22.9 per cent, urban poverty at 22.2 per cent and total poverty is at 22.4 per cent. Mr. Narayansamy said that units in the unorganized sector have grown remarkably and the State was following lean and efficient policy for both organized and unorganized sector.

Briefing the Commission on the Plan performance, the Chief Minister Vaithilingam said that despite limited resources every effort has been made to make the UT a well developed territory having all basic amenities for the people. New avenues of revenue generation were being explored to make the pace of development more sustainable.