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Briefing
Centre aims 10% growth rate
The Centre has targeted a growth rate of at least 10 per cent for the next decade to eliminate poverty in the country, according to Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha. Addressing a seminar on "Green revolution in Assam" here, Sinha regretted that the growth rate in 1999-2000 was expected to go down to only six per cent as against 6.8 per cent the previous year which was largely due to a decline in agricultural growth rate."To make the economy stronger, the government is targeting 10 per cent growth rate for the next 10 years to give agriculture its due share", Sinha said. While announcing that the Centre was prepared to grant Assam more aid for rural infrastructure, the finance minister said that Rs 2,500 crore had been set aside for construction of rural road.All villages should be connected within the next five years, he said. He urged the state government to prepare project report on development of rural roads and submit it to the Centre. Sinha said that as 25per cent subsidy was available for building up storage facility, entrepreneurs should take advantage and come forward for post harvest management which was very important. Global farmers meet
Former South African President Nelson Mandela has been invited to inaugurate the third international conference of Via Campensina, a movement of farmers, to be held in Bangalore from October 2 to 6. La via la. Campensina South Asia coordinator and Karnataka Rajya Ryta Sangha president MD Nanjundaswamy told newsmen on Monday that Mandela had been requested to address a rally of farmers in the city on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and inaugurate the conference the next day. -- (Reuters & Agencies) Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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