New Delhi, June 30: The annual plan for Goa for 2003-04 was today pegged at Rs 650 crore which includes additional central assistance of Rs 10 crore for priority schemes of the state. The plan was finalised at a meeting held here between deputy chairman of Planning Commission K C Pant and the state's Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Complimenting the state for high level of socio-economic development including a per capita income 2.5 times higher than the national average, Pant said Goa was also a front-runner in other social indicators like population growth rate, literacy and life expectancy.
He also appreciated the progress made in the power and tourism sectors.
Pant said the state should act as a judicious facilitator to boost private sector participation to further develop tourism industry as this sector employed around 20 per cent of Goa's population.
Pointing to the non-utilisation of Rs 40 crore under the AIBP last year sanctioned for irrigations projects in the state, Pant asked the government to expedite the completion of the two ongoing major irrigation projects.
Briefing the commission about the state's priorities and performance, Parrikar said employment generation strategy has been formulated to meet the job demands and the thrust areas in the current plan include education, health, social security and social infrastructure schemes.
The state has also drawn plans for infrastructure development and e-governance. He said a review of all the ongoing schemes has been done and 32 new schemes introduced.
Bureau Report