Puducherry’s higher budgetary outlay at Rs. 4,133 cr.

By Gopal Ethiraj, Puducherry

PUDUCHERRY, 03 Aug. (asiantribune.com): The Puducherry Government has projected a budgetary outlay of Rs. 4,133 crores, consisting Rs. 2,250 crores under Plan, Rs. 1,846.20 crores for Non-Plan and Rs. 36.80 crores for Centrally Sponsored Schemes, said Lietuenent-Governor Igbal Singh in the territorial Assembly here on Monday.

Delivering the customary address in the territorial Assembly, inaugurating the Budget session, Igbal Singh thanked the Planning Commission for having fixed a higher Plan outlay which is 29% more than the last year. “For financing the Plan, resources needs
to be mobilized.”

By the sustained efforts of the Government, NABARD has sanctioned a loan of Rs. 54.57 crores under RIDF to take up various infrastructures related works in Puducherry and
Karaikal regions. HUDCO has sanctioned a loan of Rs. 146 crores to take up the development works of T h i r u n a l l a r Temple Town p r o j e c t at Karaikal. This will hasten the economic progress of the Karaikal region and increase the tourist inflow, he said.

Igbal Singh said as assured by the Government during the last year, the precision farming was implemented in Puducherry and Karaikal regions in an area of 45 hectares. One Uzhavar Sandai and one regulated market were opened at Ariyankuppam and Maducarai respectively to give a fillip to the agricultural marketing. Puducherry State Horticultural Development Society, under .National Horticultural Mission has been established. The Government continues to pay special attention to protect the interest of he farm industry and poultry through a well developed network of Veterinary Institutions.

“During last year, my Government have taken efforts to bring 295 acres under fish
culture by granting input subsidy of Rs. 5,000 per acre. As fishing is a risky venture, 13,000 fishermen have been supplied with life savings jackets free of cost,” he said.

Plan to contain budgetary deficit

The prevailing recession in the World economy has had its impact on the Union
Territory also, particularly, in opening up the private investment portfolio and the creation of employment opportunities in the secondary and tertiary sectors. While various initiatives taken by the Central Government at the national level will have a trickle down effect in restoring buoyancy in the overall economy, Puducherry Government is seized of this challenge and has planned measures to contain the overall budgetary deficit through pragmatic measures with an increase in the annual Plan outlay.

The recommendations of the Central Sixth Pay Commission in the last financial year had stretched the resources considerably. Although Central assistance has come in good measure there are a number of employees in the autonomous bodies who could not get benefit from the pay revision. They will be covered in this year. Besides the balance payment of the arrears to the employees will further curtail the available resources for the planned development unless effective measures are taken immediately for mobilizing additional resources.

The Government has hosted a website in August, 2008 exclusively for NRIs to promote
the investment and industrial climate by the Directorate of Industries and Commerce. “My Government is fully aware of the recession in consequences on industrial production, commerce and trade.,” he said and pointed out that Union Government and Reserve Bank of India have already announced financial packages to stimulate the economy which includes lowering down the interest rates and concessions to step up exports.

Campaign for handicrafts promotion

As a part of promotional campaign for handicraft items, 15 days Gandhi Shilp Bazaar was organized in Puducherry. The bazaar was jointly organized by the Development
Commissioner (Handicrafts), the Ministry of Textiles and the Pondicherry Pudumai Handicrafts Artisans Co-operative Society for 10 days and the District Industries Centre for 5 days the Governor said and added that a total of 282 artisans from various States converged in Puducherry to present their creations.

Puducherry Airport runway for ATR type of flight operation is nearing completion. During last year, four hotels were opened and 199 rooms were added. The Department of Tourism in collaboration with Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Alliance Francaise has successfully conducted the Oceanic Culture entitled as Indian Diaspora Cultural Meet 2009, highlighting its rich cultural heritage edifices. The Government have recently
constituted a State Level Heritage Conservation Advisory Committee to draw out a long-term plan for preservation of the heritage buildings, sites and streets with due emphasis attached to environmental significance.

Clean and Green state

“My Government has constituted a Committee to campaign and implement .Clean
and Green Puducherry policy. The Ousteri Lake has been declared as a protected place for Avian Fauna,” he said.

Computers with all its accessories were supplied to all the 98 village commune panchayats during March 2009. In Education sector, three new Primary Schools were opened under Sarva Siksha Abiyan. One Middle School has been upgraded into High School and four High Schools were upgraded into Higher Secondary Schools. In order to give special emphasis to guide and counsel the adolescent girls, 15,399 girls were provided with counseling. Also my Government has taken steps in training 23,096 girl students. All the Arts and Science Colleges have obtained accreditation from NAAC. The
Territorial administration entered into an agreement with Alliance Francaise to train
French teachers in Government and private schools in Puducherry. Around 30 teachers
would be trained by experts during the first phase.

The programme would be extended to teachers in the Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions in the second phase. In a rare gesture, Government has been extending pocket money of Rs. 250 annually for students studying from 6th Standard to 12th Standard. Nearly 480 children from 19 States have gathered in Puducherry for a week-long National Children’s Festival 2009, jointly conducted by Education and Tourism Department. The Children’s Festival provides a common platform for the children from all across India to interact and understand the divergent culture that prevails in various parts of the country. The festival served as an opportunity for interactions among children, transforms the personality and vision of the child and created a mini-India in Puducherry.

Welfare schemes

Puducherry has a health care infrastructure superior to that in existence to the rest of India. Despite the logistical problems posed by geographical separation of the four
regions of the Union Territory, Puducherry ranks quite high compared to the rest of India in terms of fulfillment of national goals in respect of several health indicators. The Cardiac Cath Lab. installed at a cost of Rs. 4.88 crores will facilitate in better diagnostics and also treatment of coronary diseases. Two mobile medical van have been launched at the Primary Health Centres

“Ours is basically a Welfare State and the Government is implementing a package of
schemes for promoting the Welfare of Adi-dravidar people, women, children, aged and disabled. It is the endeavour of the Government to accelerate the socio-economic growth by providing equitable opportunities to women and weaker sections of the society. As my Government is committed towards the welfare of the people in general and women and children in particular, 494 widows, daughters were granted Rs. 20,000 for their marriage. 3,471 pregnant women were granted an assistance of Rs. 500. Further 1,354 lactating
mother of girl children were granted an assistance of Rs. 1,200. 11,027 new beneficiaries were given pension under the scheme .Old Age, Widow and Destitute Pension. scheme in addition to the existing 97,770 beneficiaries.

“My Government has constructed 132 houses in Solai Nagar south and 180 houses in Vaithikuppam for Tsunami victims. More than 700 houses were handed over to fishermen living in Tsunami-affected coastal villages of Puducherry and Karaikal regions during February 2009. Construction of 170 houses in Kalikuppam, 300 houses in Karukklacherry and 125 in M.G.R. Nagar at Kalapet were completed and allotted. Construction of 150 houses in Narambai and 274 in Solai Nagar would be completed in a few months.,” he said.

Police force modernisation

The quality of life in a democracy is directly linked to the functioning of Police. The
functional responsibilities of Police grew in proportion to the development of society. With the increase of population, the duties of Police got enlarged and diversified. After Mumbai terror strikes in November 2008, modernization of Police Force and Coastal Security has gained momentum.

“The Puducherry Police Force will be provided with modern equipments to meet such eventualities. I would earnestly appeal to the House to seriously deliberate on them and unanimously draw out the new action plan for the year for overall development of the Union Territory,” the Governor said.