Suresh Prabhu launches Phase II of Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg development plan; to devise customised growth strategies for districts

Mumbai: Commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday launched the second phase of the district development plan (DDP) for Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.The first phase of the plan involved identifying growth areas and mapping and determining the baseline for each of the earmarked districts, and aimed to increase GDP growth by 2-3 per cent annually, thereby helping boost national GDP.Through a pilot project of the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), six districts Varanasi (UP), Muzaffarpur(Bihar) Visakhpatnam (AP) and Solan (HP), Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra have been identified for the district development plan.IIM Lucknow and NCAER have been selected to implement the exercise.

"The first phase has been completed and the next phase is taking forward the plan from the baseline," Prabhu said at the launch.

The target is to devise and implement customised growth strategies for districts, focusing on their specific strengths in niche areas such as services, geographical indications (GI) and skills.[caption id="attachment_2316830" align="alignleft" width="380"] Suresh Prabhu in a file photo. PTI[/caption]If districts are the starting point for growth, the need for trickle-down effect and inclusive growth strategy are both eliminated, since growth is planned and implemented from the bottom up, he said.If all the districts in the country grow by 3-4 percent more by their normal growth rate, then India will grow by 3-4 percent more, the minister said adding this is the basic idea behind the district development plan.An accelerated development plan has been prepared for both districts. The Marine Product Export Development Agency and Agriculture Price Export Development Agency have started taking steps to boost exports, he said.Besides, a Rs 550-crore plan is under consideration, which after approval, will give a big boost to tourism in the Konkan region, said the minister.Prabhu also said that the Sindhudurg city airport will be inaugurated soon and both districts will soon be included under the government's regional connectivity scheme UDAN, giving a boost to air connectivity. Various steps have already been taken for development of air, road, rail and port infrastructure.The commerce minister noted that the World Bank maps of ease of doing business only for nations, not for districts, and have been asking the government about district-level mapping.The minister indicated that the government will now map the ease of doing business for districts as well.  To keep watching India’s No. 1 English Business News Channel – CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day.To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News – CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day.