NDC approved 11th Five Year Plan

The National Development Council approved the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007 - 2012) amid demands by the Chief Ministers for greater flow of funds to them for tackling regional imbalances. PM Manmohan Singh expressed confidence that Indian economy would achieve a growth rate of 10 per cent in the terminal year of the plan. He also cautioned against the price pressures on food items and the adverse impact of global financial crisis on the economy.

The 11th Five-Year Plan has given highest priority to agriculture, education and health. The total outlay for the plan is Rs 36,44,718 crore out of which, budgetary support would be Rs 14,21,711 crore. There was a hot debate in the meeting when Gujarat CM Narendra Modi accused the UPA government of minority appeasement while implementing the plan. However, PM Manmohan singh refuted the charges, saying there was no attempt to divide the people on caste or religious lines and the focus remained on the most marginalized sections of the society.