Revamp of health,MSME sectors on anvil

A comprehensive revamp of the public healthcare system,focused attention on the MSME sector...

A comprehensive revamp of the public healthcare system,focused attention on the MSME sector,strengthening the implementation capacity of 11th and 12th Plan power projects and re-prioritising the education system besides renewed initiaves in roads and shipping and urban development sectors are likely to be on the agenda of the new government.

The Planning Commission has made a set of recommendations to the government. To begin with,the government is likely to initiate major efforts to re-prioritise efforts in completely revamping the healthcare system. So the government is expected to launch major efforts to decrease Infant Mortality Rates,begin a household survey of the National Rural Healthcare Mission,ensure accountability in the Primary Health Centres,and approve rigorous oversight in ensuring dispensation of medicines before their expiry dates, top sources said.

A major thrust is expected towards the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector,where existing government schemes have achieved little in improving the conditions of the artisans,who continue to remain poor and are vulnerable to suicide. As such the new government is expected to promote cluster schemes to empower the workers. The government is likely to insist on the use of handlooms and handicrafts in the decor of all government and private sector offices as well as at the coming Commonwealth Games,airport lounges and other places,sources said.

In the power sector,the Manmohan Singh government is likely to operationalise the proposed National Electricity Fund,strengthen the project implementation capacity to ensure better implementation of 11th and 12th Plan power projects and allow import of super-critical technology by BHEL and private players. In the education sector,the new government is likely to restructure the SSA into a Mission for Quality Elementary Education to address systemic issues including teacher absenteeism and accountability.