AP govt plans to compile a comprehensive HDR by year end

The HDR would be based on about 29 indices recommended by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reflecting the overall socio-economic development such as literacy, nutrition, infant mortality, school-drop outs and per capita income.

On the difference between Vision 2020 and the HDR, the official said: "While the Vision document speaks of overall development targets and the spurt in the economy, the HDR deals withthe equal distribution of fruits of development and the quality of life of the people".

Efforts were also on to link the vision document and the HDR so as to strike a balance between growth rate and equity. "In fact, the two are mutually supplementary. Targets at all levels would be inter-dependent,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the State Government is keen on implementing the Vision 2020 from June this year, after consultations. A two-day national seminar on the subject will be held here on April 29 and 30, where about 300 eminent economists, social scientists and scholars will present papers.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will extend invitations to intellectuals, politicians and representatives of trade and industry for the seminar, where growth priorities will be finalised. After that, the government will start implementing the Vision document.

However, there is still confusion in official circles over the nature of government funding for the Vision 2020, which requires an annual investment ofabout Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the next two decades as against the State’s meagre plan outlay of about Rs 6,500 crore.

"The vision compass, aimed at monitoring the implementation of the Vision, would take into account the contribution of individuals as well as the private sector," a senior official said. However, he admitted that during the initial years, the government would have to invest heavily.