Soaring Wings

The Annual Plan for Mizoram for the year 2009-10 was finalized here today at a meeting between Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Mizoram Shri Lalthanhawla. The Annual Plan was finalized at Rs.1250 crore.

The Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that the State Government should focus on improving agriculture production and emphasis should be on shifting from jhum practices. He also wanted the State to promote public private partnership in all sectors of economy and specially in the horticulture sector where State has inherent potential. He said public private partnership in pineapple processing and marketing should be encouraged.

Mr. Ahluwalia said monitoring mechanism need to be improved to make development benefit to reach all sections of the society. He was of the opinion that multiple layer monitoring would lead to better performance and transparency in the development process.

The Chief Minister while briefing the Commission on development strategy pointed out that the State government was working on a new land use policy which will involve multi dimensional activities including plantation, value addition and bamboo as alternative use for timber. He said the State government would expect approximately Rs.2500 crores as Central assistance over a period of five years for successful implementation of the programme.

He said a three tier monitoring at State/district and village level is being introduced to improve implementation. Non-governmental organizations and social activists would be involved. It also proposes to have monitoring through independent and expert monitoring agencies to ensure transparency in the system.