CHANDIGARH: A team of the Planning Commission of India led by Prof. VL Chopra, Member undertook the annual review of the performance of Punjab's State Plan for the year 2007-08 here Monday.

The Punjab Government team comprising Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh and senior officials of the State Government apprised the Planning Commission officials of the plan performance of the state in 2007-08. As per the data collected by the Punjab State Planning Board, the State incurred a Plan expenditure of Rs. 5184 crore against an original Plan allocation of Rs. 5111 crore which was subsequently revised to Rs. 5050 crore.

Expressing satisfaction on the State's overall plan performance in 2007-08, Prof. VL Chopra stated that it was necessary for Punjab to further consolidate its performance in the remaining years of the 11th Five Year Plan in order to regain its position as a premier State in the country.  He urged the Chief Secretary to accord utmost priority to ensuring timely release of funds to the Administrative Departments by the State Government for the Departments to access their due share of funds under Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The Member impressed upon the Punjab Government the need to not only achieve quantitative targets but also pay equal attention towards qualitative achievements.  He reflected on the mismatch between the State's economic and social indicators and urged the State Government to devote greater attention to improving their health and educational indicators.

Chief Secretary RI Singh assured the delegation that the State Government was fully conscious of the problem areas and had taken steps to streamline the working of important national flagship programmes such as Sarva Shikhsa Abhiyan (SSA), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) among others. The State Government would ensure timely release of State share of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in order to optimally access the due central share, he stated. He also highlighted before the visiting delegation some of the unfavourable criteria in various Centrally-sponsored schemes which Punjab had taken up with various line Ministries in the Government of India. Prof. Chopra asked the State Government to send a detailed note on the subject so that the Planning Commission could help facilitate early clearances from Government of India.

Earlier, Prof. Chopra called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and briefly discussed some of the significant issues related to Punjab's economy.

Among those who attended the day-long meeting were Alka Sirohi, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission, DS Kalha, Principal Secretary Finance, Satish Chandra, Secretary Planning, Director Planning Tejveer Singh and all concerned Administrative Secretaries as well as officers of the Planning Commission and Punjab State Planning Board.