Gross budgetary support for the Central Plan has been enhanced to Rs 44000 crore from Rs 38263 crore in the revised estimates of 1998-99.The Budget support for Centre, states and Union territories has been placed at Rs 77000 crore, marking an increase of Rs 8629 crore over revised estimates of 1998-99.

Finance minister Yashwant Sinha said following Prime Minister's directions, the Plan for 1999-2000 focuses on basic human development needs such as education, health care, social welfare, housing and water supply.

Out of the total budgetary support of Rs 44000 crore for Central Plan, Rs 31035 crore has been provided to 18 ministries and departments covered by Prime Minister's Special Action Plan, Sinha said. Compared to revised estimates of 1998-99, outlay for Plan programmes has been significantly increased in priority sectors like agricultureand allied activities for which outlay has been increased by 34.5 per cent, the minister said adding that the increase in case of social services is 21.9 per cent.

Central Plan assistance to states and Union territories has been raised to Rs 33000 crore as compared to 30108 crore in 1998-99 revised estimates. Assistance for the basic minimum services and slum development schemes has also been enhanced from Rs 3684 crore to Rs 4043 crore.

About north-east, finance minister said he had announced a non-lapsable pool last year and Rs 98 crore had already been released for projects in the region from the Budget of different central ministries.

Sectoraly, the Plan allocations for agriculture and allied activities go up to Rs 3736 crore from Rs 2777 crore revised estimate of 1998-99. Plan outlay for rural development goes up to Rs 7843 crore as against revised estimates of Rs 7736 crore in 1998-99.

Irrigation and flood control get Rs 348 crore marginally higher than Rs 345 crore as per revised estimates of1998-99 but substantially lower than Rs 374 crore provided in original budget estimates.

The outlay for energy goes up considerably to Rs 27381 crore as compared to last year's level of Rs 23979 crore as per revised estimates 1998-99. Industry and minerals sector outlay goes up to Rs 8672 crore from Rs 7955 crore as per revised estimates for 1998-99 but substantially lower than original provision of Rs 11551 crore.

With emphasis on improving the infrastructure, transport sector outlay goes up to Rs 16850 crore as against Rs 16186 crore provided inBudget estimates and Rs 14397 crore in revised estimates.