Odisha Annual Plan 2011-12 Finalized at Rs.15200 crores.

Orissa Annual Plan 2011-12 Finalized at Rs.15200 crores. This was decided in a meeting held between Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia at New Delhi today.

Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia complimented the State Government for the progress achieved in many areas. He said Odisha was figuring amongst the State doing well in poverty eradication and human development. Satisfactory progress has been recorded in social sectors including education and health.

Planning Commission appreciated the State Government for achieving a real average growth rate of 9.57 per cent during the first three years of the eleventh Plan. He said in the agriculture and allied sector growth rate of 4.8 per cent has been achieved during the same period. The State Government was advised to focus on making progress more inclusive and on reducing regional disparities. The State Government was also advised to better utilize science and technology in addressing the development related problems of the State. Attention was drawn to the condition of tribal and women and children in the State. It was pointed out that the State has done a good work in reforms and port sector was doing exceptionally well.

The Planning Commission has offered expertise in handling the problems which the State was facing following reforms in the power distributing sector. A team from the Commission will be visiting State with a purpose to find solution.

Mr. Naveen Patnaik said that the State has been assiduously pursuing the development agenda to achieve a sustainable and inclusive higher economic growth, accelerated overall development and a faster rate of poverty reduction. The development strategies include: strengthening human development sectors such as education, health services, food and nutritional security; improving welfare of marginalized groups such as Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes and women; reducing regional, social and gender disparities; and scaling up investment in agriculture, allied sectors and infrastructure sectors.

He said removal of disparities is one of the important development strategies adopted by the Government. Several Key initiatives have been taken to address severe problems of underdevelopment and regional disparities. To expedite development of KBK districts an Eight Year Perspective Plan for KBK districts from the year 2009-10 to 2016-17 for a projected outlay of Rs.4,550 crore has been developed.