A brief note on Puducherry Annual Plan 2008- 2009:

Puducherry Annual Plan 2008- 2009 was finalized in a meeting that was held between Shri N. Rangaswamy, the Chief Minister of Puducherry and Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, on 18th February, 2008. The total size of Puducherry Annual Plan, 2008- 2009 was fixed at Rs. 1750 crores.

Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission praised the efforts of the Union Territory for the growth that has taken place in the sectors of service and manufacturing. The efforts for development of tourism in the Union Territory and encouraging the participation of the private sector in tourism were also highly appreciated.

In the Union Territory, the health and education sectors performed satisfactorily. The indices of human development in Puducherry are in a better position than the average of the nation. The Planning Commission has offered the Union Territory further assistance in the form of technical non- lending help for the procurement of the Master Plan so that it would lead to the development of the tourism sector.

Shri N. Rangaswamy, the Chief Minister of Puducherry has said that the Eleventh Plan would lay importance on the development of the social sector with more funds allotted for the improvement of drinking water supply, public distribution system, rural roads, upgradation of slums, services of primary health care and primary and secondary education. Further, he said that the sector of infrastructure in the Union Territory was being improved in order to attract investment in IT, industries, and tourism. The Chief Minister of Puducherry, Shri N. Rangaswamy, also said that livestock integration and farming system based on the model of natural resource would be encouraged.