Thiruvananthapuram, Monday 12 April 2010: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will today hold discussions with the Planning Commission on the State’s Annual Plan for 2010-11.

V.S. Achuthanandan left for Delhi from Kozhikode on Sunday morning. Discussion on the Annual Plan was held up this year because of the delay in the Finance Commission submitting its report. Usually, the Plan is finalised before presentation of the Annual Budget.

The State has proposed a Plan of Rs.10,000 crore for the current year. This is 12.10 per cent higher than last year’s Plan of Rs. 8,920 crore. It is hoping that the Centre would agree to increase the one time Additional Central Assistance from Rs. 110 crore last year. If that happens, the proposed Plan size would go up marginally.

The Plan proposes three novel schemes — an urban employment guarantee scheme, an income support scheme for traditional workers) aimed at checking the fall out of Indo-ASEAN free trade agreement) and a scheme for reaching energy to outlaying hamlets of tribals and other marginalised sections. The Commission is expected to comment on these and, as usual, on the sectoral allocations proposed.

(News agency)