Tripura’s annual Plan pegged at Rs 14,500-mn

New Delhi: The annual Plan of Tripura for the fiscal 2008-09 has been pegged at Rs 1,450 crore, inclusive of the additional Central assistance of Rs 110 crore of projects of particular interest to the State.

This was agreed here at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief Minister of Tripura, Mr Manik Sarkar.

Commenting on the performance of the State, Mr Ahluwalia said that despite constraints the State has been performing well in all sectors. He specially complimented the State for financial management and in sound performance in health and education sectors.

The State was advised to link education with employability and to explore the possibilities for further expanding public private partnership in the development of both physical and social infrastructure.

Mr Ahluwalia pointed out that the Central Government was fully aware of the constraints in involving private sector in the development of infrastructure including connectivity throughout the north eastern region.

All efforts would be made to provide bigger public sector support in the development of infrastructure.

He assured the State Government of the full support of the Planning Commission in providing more flexibility in the guidelines of the Central projects so as to encourage States to take maximum benefit from the Central initiatives.

Mr Sarkar informed the Commission that the State Government has succeeded in maintaining fiscal discipline.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) targets have been achieved successively for three years and tax revenue collection had improved from 2.7 per cent to 3.4 per cent during the Tenth Plan period. The human development index of the State was better than the national average. There has been substantial reduction in the number of children out of school.

Sixty per cent of teachers have been trained and computer-aided education programme were being introduced in a phased manner.

He sought the Planning Commission’s support in the modernisation of Agartala Airport, four-laning of the National Highway-44 and rail line from Agartala to Sabroom, an official release issued here said.