Gujarat CM Narendra Modi lambasts UPA Government

by sagarmedia

57th National Development Council Meeting

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi lambasts UPA Government for

Atmosphere of pessimism and despondency due to poor leadership

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He demands setting up of Natural Resources Commission,

Smart Grid for power and opportunities for women & youth

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Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today strongly criticized the Central Government for the prevailing mood of despondency and pessimism in the country which he said is pushing the nation towards poor growth and development.
Shri Modi, in his strongly worded speech at the 57th National Development Council meeting here, said that the prevailing sense of pessimism is the direct result of poverty of ideas and actions, lack of leadership and policy paralysis of the Central Government.
The Gujarat Chief Minister asked the Government of India to focus on infrastructure. He said that Smart Grid initiative to enhance transmission and distribution of power should be promoted to ensure availability of power to all. He also asked the Prime Minister to come out with “fuel policy” so that power plants installed run to their full capacity and precious resources are utilized.
Shri Modi demanded setting up of a Natural Resources Commission, every five years, on the lines of the Finance Commission, which would be a Centre-States interface to decide the allocation of natural resources for proper utilization and inclusive growth. He added that the role of States for such a body is pivotal since country’s natural wealth is stored in the states. This will help in improving the just utilization of natural resources for the benefits of people.
The Gujarat experience has clearly shown that special attention paid to “skill development” in manufacturing sector has yielded rich dividends in terms of employment generation, the Gujarat Chief Minister informed the meeting, adding that the Planning Commission has studied the Gujarat model of Kaushalya Vardhak Kendras (KVKs) and shared the scheme of skill-based training for employment with other states for its adoption.
If Government of India and Planning Commission sound depressed about economic growth and cite international reasons, then what will country do?, Shri Modi questioned. During the NDC meeting last year, the Government of India projected 9 per cent GDP growth but managed 7.9 per cent growth rate. It is unfortunate that after 14 months, the Planning Commission has convened this meeting to deliberate upon achieving 8.2 per cent growth rate, which is just 0.3 per cent higher. He further said that so such pessimism is there that Central Government is hinting that growth target would be 8 per cent.
Already 20 per cent of the time span of 12th Plan has passed and the growth rate has stagnated at 5.5 per cent. He slammed the Planning Commission for preparing 12th Plan document based on perception rather than on hard facts.
Shri Modi mentioned how some other countries have made big leaps in acquiring Gas fields world over and India has failed to do so. He demanded that the Government of India should formulate a “fuel policy” so as to tap energy sources lying underutilized in the country because of policy logjam. To fulfill the demand of fertilizers, it is important that new sources of gas and rock phosphate are acquired. Advocating the concept of policy driven inclusive growth, the Gujarat Chief Minister said that the Centre should formulate a central policy on developing agro-infrastructure and environmental protection.

Keeping in line with its “non-consultative approach” the Central Government has adopted a deliberate policy to not consult the State Governments before taking any crucial decisions pertaining to States-specific issues which has an adverse impact on the federal polity of the country. Sh Modi reiterated that there is an urgent need to set up a “structured mechanism” which addresses critical issues of States that remain pending for resolution by the Central Government for years and resolve them in a time-bound manner.
The Gujarat Chief Minister mentioned that the Twelfth Plan document clearly admits that it is not only global economic conditions that are responsible for this dismal scenario in the country but several factors stemming out of the lackadaisical approach of the Central Government are mainly responsible for the “policy logjam”.
Sh Modi said that the Central Government has made little effort to tackle supply side constraints which have been responsible for double-digit inflation in the price of basic commodities.
Sh Modi in his speech said that the bulk of Centre-State transfers should be in the form of Additional Central Assistance with full freedom and flexibility given to States to formulate State to meet the specific needs of people.
He said the Twelfth Plan would focus on fresh concept of Rurbanisation – development of Rurban Centres and Rurban Clusters along with an efficient mass transportation system to improve connectivity. The State Government-run schemes like the E-gram Vishwagram Yojana, Jyotigram Yojana, State wide Gas Grid, State wide water pipeline Network and development of milk cooperatives along with skill development would help check migration and may even invoke reverse migration. He also said that to enable the women and youth to realize their full potential, in addition to skill development and quality education there is a need to develop satellite cities and towns around all big metro cities. There is a need to provide modern infrastructure and civic services in all towns and cities so that people enjoy quality life.
Addressing the menace of malnutrition as a “serious national problem that requires a cogent, well reasoned, systematic and time-bound strategy with targeted interventions”, Sh Modi emphasized on availability of periodic statistical data through regular surveillance, schemes  for capacity building and training at the grass root level along with a targeted public awareness campaign.
He said that to continue the emphasis on Human development, it is proposed to provide an outlay of Rs 1, 17, 703 crore for social sector in the Twelfth Plan, more than double the outlay of the 11th Plan. He further said that “Gujarat State Nutrition Mission” has been launched in the current year as “Mission Balam Sukham” for adopting an integrated inter-sectoral and holistic approach covering various proven interventions cutting across various sectors and departments to mitigate the problem of nutrition. The major focus in our approach will be on improving Human Development Index, ensuring inclusive growth by empowering the poor through improved quality of life, affordable housing and increasing livelihood opportunities, promoting better governance by emphasizing citizen centric governance, empowering youth and women and preparing citizens for the challenges of the future, Sh Modi said.
Gujarat Minister Shri Saurabhbhai Patel, Chief Secretary Shri A.K. Joti, Shri Varesh Sinha, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) and other senior officers from State Government attended the NDC meeting