Inclusiveness is not just about poverty reduction, it is much more than that
Social sectors like health and education will get a leg up in the Eleventh Plan (2007-12), even as some other sectors may see a reduction in fund allocation.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said the government can consider some more measures to contain inflation if prices do not soften going ahead. Inflation touched a 42-month high of 7.57 per cent for the week ended April 19 as compared to 7.33 per cent in the previous week. When asked whether futures trading of food grains be banned to bring down prices, he replied that the expert committee has said that futures trading does not increase inflation.
"If half a dozen other developing countries could do it, India can too. There are some things we need to do and if we do them right, there should be no doubt about achieving the projected growth rates," Ahluwalia said.
The Planning Commission on Thursday said the surge in global oil prices should be passed on to customers, but favoured having some provisions to safeguard the interests of vulnerable sections of the society.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said the country would need to spend eight per cent of its GDP on the sector during the 11th Plan to ensure a 10 per cent economic growth.
"I am in favour of generally multilaterally liberalising trade and I think the rest of the world is moving towards doing that in a parallel track," says Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Favouring independent regulators for railways and road sector, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Friday stressed on the need for proper policy framework defining the role of these monitors.
The Planning Commission on Tuesday said investment in infrastructure will have to be about $350 billion in the next five years to propel overall growth of economy to over 8 per cent.
Favouring labour reforms but without 'hire-and-fire' system, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Friday said rigidities in labour laws were affecting the domestic job market.
He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia during his visit.
'We want the PM to be aware of the autocratic behaviour of the bureaucracy,' says CPI leader D Raja.
The government is planning to utilize $5 billion worth of foreign exchange reserves for infrastructure development this fiscal.
To defuse the crisis over appointment of 'foreign' experts in the Planning Commission, its Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and find a solution shortly.
With a view to find a long term alternative to scarce petroleum products, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Amid criticism over engaging experts from multilateral agencies like World Bank, Planning Commission on Wednesday asserted that none of the "outside bodies"
State-run Power Finance Corporation on Thursday awarded the 4,000 MW Sasan and Mundra ultra mega power projects to the two successful bidders Lanco Infratech and Tata Power respectively.
The Planning Commission on Tuesday made a case for increasing prices of petrol and diesel arguing that it was not a good idea to check inflation by keeping prices of petroleum products low.
Terming the Union Budget as an excellent document, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Monday said efforts were on to break the impasse on turnover tax on securities transactions.
High profile economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Monday assumed charge as the deputy chairman of Planning Commission.
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, on Monday congratulated Montek Singh Ahluwalia on his appointment as Deputy Chairman of India's Planning Commission.
India, which aspires to grow like China in various spheres, is interestingly against replicating the Beijing model of population control as it feels that a sudden reduction could impact supply of labour.
Ahluwalia, who was part of the team under then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh that started reform process in 1991, is presently with the International Monetary Fund, a post which he is expected to relinquish next month.
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