Focus on employment oriented growth: Dasgupta

Express news service

* LAND: To carry on ongoing scheme concerning free distribution of land among poor farmers, landless labourers for cultivation and construction of houses, the land for distribution may be purchased by government at rates upto 15 per cent higher than market value.
* AGRICULTURE: At present, the net irrigated area of the agricultural land is 70.5 per cent. The target for the next year is to increase it to 73 per cent. Steps proposed for offering farmers quality seeds and more organic and bio-fertilisers along with chemical fertilisers. Around 20 ‘bio-villages’ to be set up next year.
* ANIMAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT: Alternative livestock farming programme contemplated for rehabilitation of poultry farmers hit by the bird-flu. Plan outlay of department would be increased to Rs 62.57 crore.
* FISHERIES: An additional fund of Rs 5 crore to be allocated for developing marketing facilities.
* CREDIT FOR AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED ACTIVITIES: Credit disbursement target to be raised by 30 per cent to Rs 6,175 crore.
* AGRO-MARKETING: Proposal to set up a new marketing corporation for procurement and supply of commodities at fair price.
* INDUSTRY: Incentives to industries based on employment generation. Special Assistance Fund, with a Rs 100-crore allocation, proposed for providing job-oriented training to those who have lost land. Plan outlay for Commerce and Industries department to be increased from Rs 200 crore to Rs 350 crore.
* TEA GARDENS: Government to continue financial assistance of Rs 750 per head per month for workers for one year after reopening closed tea gardens and factories.
* PUBLIC TRANSPORT: An additional 400 buses for state transport corporations, concretisation of remaining tram tracks.
* EDUCATION: Additional 1,000 primary schools and 1,000 junior high schools proposed. Two hundred new junior high madrasas proposed. Two hundred sishu siksha kendras and 300 madhyamik siksha kendras in predominantly minority areas will also come up. Five hundred high schools will be upgraded to higher secondary schools and 100 madrasas to high madrasas. An additional 10,000 teachers for upper primary, high, higher secondary schools will be recruited. One thousand 1,000 more teachers for madrasa institutions too. An assistance of Rs 100 per month will be offered to girl students from poor families for continuing studies beyond class VIII and upto class XII. Twenty-two new colleges will come up during the next financial year.
* MINORITIES: State assistance to state minorities finance corporation to be increased by Rs 20 crore. Plan outlay to increase from Rs 40 crore to Rs 130 crore.
* FOR THE POOR: Cooked food will be prepared by self-help groups of local women and offered to the poorest people who are physically weak and cannot participate in the employment generation programme. Rs 100 crore will be earmarked to begin the programme.
* FOR THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE: Medical benefit scheme floated for state government employees and members of their families that entitle them to claim reimbursement for treatment in recognised private hospitals.