Montek for putting stress on faster, inclusive growth

Planning Commission's Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said on Monday the issues like cash subsidy and purchasing power parity, especially raised by Bihar, would be addressed prominently in the approach paper to 12th five year plan.

"We will give thrust on ensuring faster and inclusive growth and sustainability," Ahluwalia said.

He was speaking to reporters along with Union Minister of State for Planning Ashwini Kumar on the sidelines of the Regional Consultation with five Eastern States on the Approach Paper to be finalised by the Planning Commission.

Stating that the meeting of the Commission which began on Monday was a 'consultation process', he said no decision was taken during the meeting.

"We heard the issues and views of the states and we will be holding similar types of meetings with North Eastern States, Southern and Western states in next two to three weeks," Montek said.

"We will then finalise the draft for the 12th plan period," he said.

"I think the states have been very pleased to welcome the consultation process," he said, adding "we are happy to note that the states represented their views and raised issues to be covered in approach".

There was emphasis on agriculture, development of infrastructure, Ahluwalia said.

He said there was no discussion on Bihar's demand on the special category status, saying the topic was neither on the agenda nor was this the subject of topic of the Planning Commission.

Ahluwalia indicated that many more states have placed a similar demand but these will be discussed on a different platform (National Development Council).

Ahluwalia said Kumar raised the issue of projects under Public Private Partnership and informed that one such project was being executed in Bihar with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion).

"From the central point of view many more such projects needed to be implemented," Ahluwalia said, adding the issue of backward states not receiving investments was also broadly discussed.

Union Minister of state for Planning Ashwini Kumar said the issue of cash subsidy for schemes too figured during the discussion and 'it is a relevant issue on which we will be holding consultation in future as well'.

The bigger issues raised by the backward states were lack of 'direct investment', he said and stressed the need for public investments there.

"The proportion of the private investment and the forms will be discussed for ensuring investment in backward states," Kumar said.

Image: Montek Singh Ahluwalia