Kerala has got an annual Plan outlay of Rs 14,010 crore for 2012-13. The Plan was finalised here on Friday at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy.
After the meeting, Mr Chandy said the Plan would give top priority to agriculture. Similarly, major thrust would be given to public health, higher education, urban development, dairy development, sports and youth services, tourism and art & culture.
Mr Chandy said there was need for increased spending both by the Centre and the States on public health. Infrastructure development was also a key thrust area, as also the social sector, he added.
Commenting on the Kerala's Plan performance, Mr Ahluwalia said the State's performance in education and health sector was better than most States. However, he drew attention to the falling growth in the agriculture and pointed out that the share of the agriculture and industry sectors in Kerala's GSDP had been gradually falling over the year, whereas the share of services had been rising.
Mr Ahluwalia advised the State to take initiatives aimed at reviving interest in agriculture, including crop diversification and allied sectors. Her also stressed on the need to raise power tariffs and suggested unbundling the State Electricity Board.
Mr Chandy said during the 12{+t}{+h} Plan his focus would be on “Development with Care and Compassion”. The Plan focus would be on a bottom-up approach, starting from the people at the lowest strata, to achieve the objective of inclusive growth.
The sum total of investment is expected to be far greater than the amount of Government Plan investment, as government will actively promote PPP and project financing through other schemes, he added.