Panel for social growth soon

MUMBAI, May 31: The Union Minister for Planning and Programme Implementation, Y K Alagh, today said that the government would form a social...

int(3)

MUMBAI, May 31: The Union Minister for Planning and Programme Implementation, Y K Alagh, today said that the government would form a social development committee to devise and help implement polices aimed at social development.

Addressing a seminar on industry participation in social development, organised by the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Alagh said his ministry was trying to persuade Prime Minister I K Gujral to chair the committee.

He said that he intended speaking on four questions. The first question was the measurement of the population of the poor. The second was that of the strategy of wide spread development in which the question of food and employment security was built in. The third was that of participative planning, particularly related to meeting the social needs of the poor.

Story continues below this ad

Finally he proposed to handle the question of technology and support policies.

On the growth rate of Indian economy, Alagh said the target of 7 % growth rate was achievable for the Indian economy. “We are by temparement, a hard working people unless forced in some situations to be otherwise, and we are also a frugal people,” he said.

He said a move towards capital account convertibility (CAC) would increase savings and help sustain a 7 % GDP growth.