LS-SURVEY 2 LAST

Recognising the fact that prices continue to be high, the
Survey has underlined the need to "monitor emerging trends in
inflation" on a monthly basis while suggesting that the
government should improve delivery mechanism by strengthening
the situation and addressing "corruption."
The 456-page report said inflation is expected to be
higher than "what would be if the country was not on the
growth curve."
About the growth projections, the document said that with
good monsoons, the agriculture sector is expected to grow by
5.4 per cent during the current financial year up from a
lowly 0.4 per cent in the fiscal 2009-10.
"Rise in food inflation and the critical role of
agriculture underlines the need for larger investments in the
agriculture sector enroute to the second green revolution," it
said.
In its endeavour to achieve higher economic growth, the
government should pursue a reform agenda which include over a
dozen steps including streamlining land acquisition and faster
environmental clearance for infrastructure projects.
The Survey called for an early introduction of the Goods
and Service Tax (GST).
It underlined the need for private sector participation in
social sectors such as health and education in the form of
'public-social-private' partnership for supplementing the
government efforts.
In the backdrop of difficulties in land acquisition, the
Survey, which is considered as report card of the government
along a paper prescribing policies to be pursued, suggested
formation of a National Forest Land Bank.
This land bank will have clear titles to reduce approval
time for forest go ahead.
It said that focus of the government's flagship programme
'Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme'
should be shifted to permanent asset building and
infrastructure development. PTI