PM wants a progress report from Plan panel

Unfazed by the calculations being carried out by political pundits on the outcome of the general elections...

Unfazed by the calculations being carried out by political pundits on the outcome of the general elections,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh continues to focus his attention on his governments development agenda. He has asked the Planning Commission to come out with a statement by Monday,listing the achievements and shortcomings of the UPA government.

In what can be termed as a farewell meeting of sorts between the Prime Minister and full-time members of the commission,Singh pointed out that the compilation could be published to provide a ready reckoner for future strategy. According to sources,the meeting concentrated on observations of individual members on their respective sectors.

Sources said while members were broadly satisfied with the progress achieved,they did draw Singhs attention to obstacles that have caused avoidable delays. Anwarul Hoda,responsible for industry and infrastructure development,observed that public-private partnership had proved not to be the ultimate mode of infrastructure development. The member said increased emphasis was needed on enhancing public spending on the sector in the future. He also pointed out that the proposed plan to introduce express highways had virtually not taken off and not much progress had been registered in road building.

The member responsible for rural development,B L Yugandhar,was of the opinion that the UPA government has moved from the era of token benefits to actually reaching down to the society. However,he added,efficient institutional structures are yet to be created to ensure extension of optimum benefits to minorities. He said the commission needed to be complemented for maintaining neutrality in its approach as not one chief minister has ever accused the panel of being partisan.

B C Mungekar,the member responsible for labour,education and SCs and STs complimented the government for working wholeheartedly for the upliftment of ignored sections of society and praised the UPA for introducing the right to education. He said SCs and STs and minorities were enthused by the enhanced efforts of the government to educate them and pointed out the need to further expand scholarships for the youth of these sections of society.

Responsible for state finances and agriculture in the panel,Abhijit Sen pointed out that agriculture sector was performing well. Programmes introduced by the government were beginning to yield results. B K Chaturvedi briefed the Prime Minister about the progress recorded in the power sector.