Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister, Punjab today inaugurated 13th Finance Commission Review meeting-cum-GSDP workshop of Northern Region States. This workshop is being organized from 25th to 29th August, 2014 at Chandigarh. The objective of the workshop is to review the progress of GSDP of 13th Finance Commission Grant. He also released provisional results of 6th economic census of Punjab, which can be seen on www.esopb.gov.in.In his inaugural address Sh. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister, Punjab expressed that data generated through various milestones under the grant will enable the state to formulate various economic policies in an objective manner. He categeorily mentioned that data of “Cost of Cultivation Study” under Farm Activity milestone to be conducted in each district will help to formulate policies including crop persification plans at district level. Similarly data of “Business Register Survey” milestone will enable the State Govt. to prepare more authentic Industrial Policies for the state.
Ashish Kumar, Additional Director General, Central Statistical Office in his address expressed that with the achievement of various milestones under 13th FC the country will enter a new phase of statistical era where for the first time Income Estimates will be available at district level. With this, India will join countries having advance statistical system.The 13th FC recommended grant of Rs. 1.00 crore for each district of the country for strengthening database and statistical system especially at district level in all the states of the country including Punjab. Under this grant, five major milestones are to be achieved by the State within the grant (up to March, 2015), Preparation of Business Register at district level, Preparation of Local Bodies Accounts, Improvement of Farm Activity data, Pooling of central and state level NSS data and Providing Network Connectivity with district and state headquarter. This grant is to be released in five equal installments on the basis of Physical & Financial Progress of respective State. An amount of Rs. 20.00 crore is sanctioned for the State of Punjab out of which an amount of Rs. 8 crore has been received in two installments. Prime Objective of this milestone is to generate District Income Estimates which presently are prepared at state level only. For this purpose Central Statistical Office (CSO) is the nodal department at the central Govt. level and Economic & Statistical Organization (ESO), Department of planning is the nodal department at Punjab state level.
Seven states including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttrakhand, Chandigarh (U.T.) and Uttar Pradesh are participating in the workshop. Each state will present the status of various works of this grant.Sh. Jaspal Singh, Secretary Planning and Expenditure intimated that the State Govt. is according top priority to the Finance Commission Grant and its progress is being monitored regularly. Special instructions are issued from time to time to state treasury to clear the expenditure under this grant on top priority to enhance the financial utilization and to achieve physical target under grant.Sh. Mohan Lal Sharma Economic Adviser to Govt. Punjab informed that preparation of Income Estimates at District level through data of various milestones of the grant will be the major achievement which will enable the policy makers to analyze the economic situation at sub-state level and formulate policies accordingly. He also presented the status of various works of Punjab state.Sh. Harvinder Singh, Joint Director ESO, who is the nodal officer to implement the 13th Finance Commission Grant project in Punjab, thanked the Central Govt.’s concerned ministries for their supportive role in this regard.