The Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia has expressed hope that though the rate of economic growth is slower this fiscal, the prospects are good in 12th Plan beginning next fiscal.Talking to reporters during Economic Editors' Conference in New Delhi on Thursday, he said that the targeted growth rate of nine per cent for next plan will not happen by itself but by taking charge of difficulties in achieving it. Mr. Ahluwalia said that for this good care has to be taken of infrastructure, energy, land and water management and urbanisation amongst other things. He, however, stressed that the onus for this lies on state governments.In reply to a query on agriculture, Mr. Ahluwalia said that the sector needs a continuous focus as the markets for the producers have to be modernised and systemised.Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India Mr. Nandan Nilekeni said that the Aadhar Numbers are a gateway for the poor and marginalised to avail services.He said that till now over five crore Aadhar Numbers have been generated and sixty crore people will be covered by 2014.The Communication and Information Technology Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal that the key objectives of the National Policy on Information Technology is to achieve revenue of about 300 million Dollars by the year 2020, to create a pool of ten million additional skilled manpower, mandatory and e-governance to common man. He said, regulatory framework for secured cyber space will also be in focus.Adequate attention will be paid on research and design engineering. Mr. Sibal informed that a revenue of 400 billion dollars is also targeted by 2020 in the electronics manufacturing sector while there will be employment generation for 28 million people.On telecommunication Mr. Sibal said that the rural tele-density from the current level of around 35 will be increased to 60 by the year 2017 and 100 by 2020.
News On AIR | October 20, 2011 8:55 PM
Growth prospects good in 12th Plan: Montek