Tunisia’s already modest economic recovery almost halted in 2023, amidst a severe drought, tight financing conditions and the modest pace of implementing reforms. With this slowdown, the Tunisian economy
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Monday. Haryana's Annual Plan for 2008-09 was pegged at Rs.6,650 crore at a meeting here on Monday between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Plan outlay includes a one-time additional Central assistance component of Rs.100 crore for the priority projects of the State. Commenting on Haryana's performance, Dr. Ahluwalia noted that the State had been recording an excellent growth rate with its overall performance much above expectations. During the Tenth Plan period it achieved a growth of 9 per cent against the target of 7.9 per cent. Accordingly, the Commission has fixed an ambitious target of 11 per cent growth during the Eleventh Plan. The State's per capita income, he said, was also much above the national average. While appreciating the efforts being made in improving the State's human development index, the Commission drew the Government's attention to the need to bridge the gaps. On fiscal performance, Dr. Ahluwalia commended the Hooda Government for reducing the fiscal deficit within the FRBM targets and transforming it in to a revenue-surplus State. Briefing the Commission on the State Government's development strategy, the Chief Minister pointed out that apart from additional resource mobilisation measures, efforts were on to further improve the social sector performance. A number of initiatives, he said, had been taken to benefit those who had not fully realised the fruits of development. He said a luxury tax was being levied on premium hotel and banquet halls and stamp duty rates for registration of sale of properties had been rationalised. To improve the quality of education, compulsory computer training is being introduced in secondary schools and
The Goa Government had asked the Centre to scrap all SEZs in the state, after several public protest. Even though the cloud of uncertainty lingering over Special Economic Zones in Goa will take some more time to clear, the SEZ Board of Approvals that met on Monday decided to issue showcause notices to the developers of 12 zones that had already received in-principle and formal approvals from the Board. The Goa Government had asked the Centre to scrap all SEZs in the state, after several public protests rocked the state recently. While approved SEZ developers will be asked why their projects shouldn't be scrapped in the light of the concerns raised by the state Government, the three SEZs in the state already notified by the Centre will remain in limbo a tad longer. The Commerce Ministry had asked the Law Ministry to advise whether the SEZ Act, 2005, gave any provision to cancel notified zones. "While the Law Ministry has said it is possible to cancel notified zones, compensation will have to be worked out for developers if their notifications are withdrawn,' an official said. The Centre is still hoping to salvage the three notified zones that include a pharma SEZ being set up by Cipla. "The Union Government will separately initiate discussions with the Goa Government on the fate of three already notified SEZs,' said Commerce Secretary and head of the Board of Approvals, G K Pillai after the Board's meeting. Meanwhile, of the 17 SEZ proposals before the Board on Monday, 10 have been granted formal approval, including two SEZs each in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. Three of the SEZs cleared are in IT sector
The book carries contributions by eminent social scientists on some very important topics relating to India's economic and social development.
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday released the much-awaited State policy for the micro, small and medium industries (MSMI), aimed at a multi-pronged approach for the growth of industries. Minister for Rural and Small Industries Pongalur N Palanisamy told journalists at the Secretariat that such a policy was formulated for the first time in the State. He said the incentives announced in the policy would be given to the industrial units which had taken effective steps to set up their units on or after August 1, 2006 and commenced commercial production on or after February 22, 2008. Establishment of multistoreyed flatted industrial estates for micro industries, creation of a rehabilitation fund for sick enterprises, reservation of up to 20 per cent of land in all SIPCOT estates for MSMI and up to 30 per cent of area for micro industries in SIDCO estates are some of the key measures. The main would be on enhancing competitiveness and scalable capacity of MSMI besides encouraging agrobased industries for increasing value addition and giving better income to the farmers, he said. The policy also aims at a sustained annual growth rate of over 10 per cent for MSMI and to promote 10 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities during the Eleventh Plan period. Salient features of the policy Setting up of multi-storeyed flatted industrial estates for micro industries Creation of Technology Development Fund Setting up of rehabilitation fund for sick enterprises Establishment of industrial clusters and mini tool rooms under public-private partnership mode Help for creating centres of excellence and technology business incubators Export policy being evolved to encourage export of micro, small and medium (MSMI) industries Subsidy schemes for agro-based industries set up in 385 blocks 15 per cent special capital subsidy for 10 thrust sector industries 50 per cent subsidy on cost of filing a patent application and trade mark registration 50 per cent rebate on stamp duty and registration charges for MSMI in backward areas Subsidy schemes for micro industries set up anywhere in Tamil Nadu
WITH the current year dotted with elections, the UPA government has decided to introduce the Right to Education (RTE) Bill in the Budget session of Parliament. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who overrode the reservations expressed by a high-level group about the need for a Central legislation, would like the Bill to be introduced now. The ministry of human resource development (HRD) is in the process of preparing a Cabinet note, which is due to be taken up for consideration in the next two weeks. The Bill may find a mention in finance minister P Chidambaram's Budget speech too. A working committee headed by A K Rath, secretary, school education and literacy, HRD ministry, is finalising the draft of the legislation. The RTE will provide the blueprint for making systemic changes in the elementary education sector. The ministry is clear that the RTE is not another way to garner more funds for elementary education, but an opportunity to reform and rationalise the system. The promise of systemic reforms will also help to counter the growing lobby for the privatisation of school education. The private school lobby has consistently called for the opening up of the education sector, allowing "for-profit' organisations to play a role on the grounds that government schools can't provide quality education. A legislation geared to providing quality and norms for it would counter this move. Both issues of increased fiscal outlay and legal responsibility are being addressed. Many of the expenses of operationalising the RTE are being taken care of by the funding for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and teacher's education. A more realistic and lower expenditure bill is being arrived at by dovetailing the expenses of the Right to Education Bill, and the SSA and teachers' education. The fear of increased volume of public interest litigations (PIL) mandating the Centre to sanction and fund infrastructure far beyond its financial capability is being addressed by setting realistic targets for states to roll out the implementation of the Bill. For the enabling right to education, it has been a long and arduous journey. More than five years have gone since Parliament passed the 86th Constitutional Amendment giving every child between the age of 6 and 14 years the right to free and compulsory education (Article 21 A). However, Article 21 A could not be notified as the enabling legislation had not been enacted. Work on the RTE was started by the NDA government soon after Parliament passed the Constitutional Amendment Bill in December 2002. The first delay came when the NDA was voted out of power in May 2004. Work on the RTE was then taken up by the Kapil Sibal committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE). The financial implications for the Sibal draft was worked out by the then National Institute of Education Planning and Administration (NIEPA). As per these estimates, the government would require to spend a minimum of Rs 3,21,196 crore over six years to implement the legislation
AFTER putting up a rather robust macroeconomic performance over the past five years, the Indian economy is now facing some challenges. One expects that the finance minister will address these challenges in a manner that the economy is able to sustain the 9% plus growth trajectory uninterrupted.
Exports from SEZs touch Rs 40,000 cr in 9 months Close on the heels of Goa government, buckling under political pressure, seeking scrapping of all SEZs in the state, the Export Promotion Council (EPC) and SEZ developers have underlined the need for "stability and continuity' of SEZ policy to multiply Indian exports.
Apart from Madhya Pradesh, investors from nine other states have shown keen interest in making investments in the state at the Jabalpur Investors Meet held recently. Thirty-six investors from nine other states have signed 41 Memoranda of Understanding to the tune of Rs 46337 crore. In all, 61 MoUs worth Rs 56829 crore were inked at Jabalpur Investors Meet. With proposals worth Rs 18150 crore, Delhi tops the list as far as amount is concerned while the industrial houses of West Bengal's capital Kolkata have topped in the number by signing 13 MoUs.
Punjab calling: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal calling on Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Tuesday. NEW DELHI: The Annual Plan of Punjab for 2008-09 was on Tuesday finalised at Rs.6,210 crore at a meeting here between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and State Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. The Plan outlay includes an additional Central assistance component of Rs. 200 crore for the priority projects of the State.
Micro-finance is the key to helping India's poorest
