Planning Commission on Monday called for legislative and policy changes in agriculture, substantial hike in investments on education, health and infrastructure and increased accountability of local authorities to achieve the targetted 7-8 per cent growth rate.Addressing the India Economic Summit, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said, “I will not believe that India can achieve a sustained 8 per cent growth over a period without also achieving a very significant improvement in social indicators.”Pointing out that the country’s social indicators, basic health and primary education are much behind most of the South East Asian countries, he said the total volume of resources for the sector is much less than what it should be and the government should increase the flow while simultaneously improving the service delivery system.But he said states and local authorities being the implementing agencies, the Centre should increase accountability of the local authorities “ than give the money to states’ capital and have the money trickle down.” “Expenditure on health and education should be done on a design which involves elected representatives at the village level,” he said.
