Plan panel favours Kerala model

NEW DELHI: The Planning Commission today said the Centre should examine ways to replicate the Kerala model for social security, local body administration, rural development and technical education in other states.

At a meeting here to discuss the state’s annual plan for 2005-06, the Planing Commission felt Kerala needs to prepare itself to become a role model for the second generation development.

It has also suggested that ministries and departments should use Kerala for pilot projects on second-generation issues in health and education to anticipate and plan for problems likely to crop up in the rest of the country in future.

The annual plan size for Kerala for 2005-2006 was agreed at Rs 5,369 crore here today at a meeting of Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The commission has also assured the state government that additional outlay could be considered for new projects, subject to the availability of resources.

The state was advised to improve efficiency through reforms of public undertakings, complete the long pending irrigation, water supply and other externally aided projects.

It was also suggested that the state could be considered for more flexibility in Centrally-sponsored schemes relating to employment, education, social security, local bodies and backwardness.