Buoyed by the positive response to its programmes and policies aimed at enhancing income generation and poverty alleviation, the State said its next target was to achieve per capita income of Rs.2 lakh by end of 12 Five Year Plan.
The State’s per capita income during 2012-13 was Rs.77,277 as against national per capita of Rs.68,747.
Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy who returned from New Delhi after securing approval for the Rs.53,000-crore Plan outlay, said they made a presentation to the Planning Commission on Thursday that they were confident of achieving the target as they plan to grow at 10 per cent in the next five years.
The State was now ranked 5 in development and welfare activities after Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Gujarat.
Under the poverty alleviation programmes, the percentage of poor was brought down from 29 per cent in 2004-05 to 21 per cent in 2009-10, thanks to direct State-intervention programmes.
“The Chief Minister told the Planning Commission that the endeavour is to bring it below 10 per cent by the end of 12 Plan,” he said.
Even during the 11th Plan, the State registered a growth rate of 8.18 per cent in spite of drought, natural calamities on the strength of its policies and programmes, they told the Commission.
Positive development
Another positive development at the meeting was the Planning Commission’s positive response to the argument presented by the Chief Minister for change in the gas allocation to the State from KG D6 to help it tide over severe gas shortage which rendered its gas-based power plants idle.
Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, said the State’s proposal for ‘swapping’ gas from D6 with RLNG to other States would be taken up at the meeting of empowered GoM on gas allocation to be held in a week.
The Planning Commission, which patted the State government, for its financial discipline, slew of welfare schemes launched for the poor and weaker sections, however said it needed to focus more on 220 backward mandals.
The Commission advised the State to do more to improve nutrition and health parameters, particularly to further bring down the maternal and infant mortality rate by utilising the funds effectively under the Integrated Action Plan in the backward mandals, he said.
