The Annual Plan for the year 2013-14 for Nagaland was finalized here today at a meeting between Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Nagaland, Sh. Neiphiu Rio. The plan size has been agreed at Rs.2,000 crore.
In his opening comments, Mr Ahluwalia complemented the State Government for economic performance and growth for the past few years. He said growth in agriculture and allied sector is particularly appreciable. He said the State is right in maintaining focus on agriculture sector during the 12th plan and said that potential for growth in horticulture and floriculture is good. He said to encourage agriculture sector development of physical infrastructure particularly roads must get priority and the Commission would help State in accelerating road construction during 12th plan.
Sh. Ahluwalia said that the State has been performing satisfactorily and the human development index of the State indicates that the growth is inclusive. Efforts should be more focused on creating revenue generating assets. The Commission noticed that despite late start, difficult mountainous terrain, backwardness of the area, significant progress and development has taken place since Statehood. Satisfactory progress has been made in construction of roads, village connectivity, primary/middle/high/higher secondary schools, and health facilities.
On social sector development, it was pointed out that Nagaland has male and female literacy rates of 83.29% and 76.69% as against national average of 82.14% and 65.46% respectively as per Census 2011. Gender gap in literacy is almost 6.60% in the State. The overall literacy of the state is 80.11% as against the national average of 74.04% in 2011. The Dropout Rate (DOR) at elementary level is 45.4% which is higher than the national average of 40.6%.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the 12th Plan has been formulated in tune with the National approach. The planning process has been directed at inclusive economic growth with special emphasis on Agriculture and allied sector, Power, connectivity including Air, Surface and Railway, Human Resources Development including Skill Development, Development of Backward and Under Development Areas and planned Urban centres.
He said the 12th Plan projection for growth is 10%. In view of the encouraging trends during the 11th Plan especially the growth in the secondary sector and the tertiary sector, the State will endeavour to attract investment in economic activities that will generate both higher growth and jobs. Growth in the mining and quarrying sector projected at 14.53% as the State intends to go in a full way to exploit the mineral resources. He said in the 11th Plan, the State has done reasonably well by achieving a growth rate of 7.44% and a capita income of Rs.67,430/-. The performance is especially commendable in the Agriculture Sector where Meghalaya reached a level of 4.86 lakh MT of food grain production.
The sectorial growth has also been good with manufacturing sector growing at 11.84%, with registered sector growing at a rate of 34.16%. The Construction sector witnessed a growth of 11.38% and is fourth highest contributor at 13.33% of the GSDP.
