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The state annual Plan was finalised here at a meeting between Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and chief minister Naveen Patnaik, an official statement said.
Commenting on the performance of the state, Ahluwalia said that Odisha was among the states which have done well in poverty eradication and human development, including social sectors like education and health.
He asked the state government to focus on making progress more inclusive and reducing regional disparities.
Ahluwalia also said that Odisha need to better utilise science and technology in addressing the development related problems and improving the condition of tribal, women and children.
He pointed out that the state has done a good work in reforms and port sector was doing exceptionally well.
The state achieved a real average growth rate of 9.57% during the first three years of the 11th Plan (2007-12). Agriculture and allied sector growth rate during the period was 4.8%.
The Commission offered its expertise in handling problems related to power distribution by the state following reforms in the sector. A team from the Commission will be visiting the state soon to to find solution to the issue.
Briefing the Commission, Patnaik said the state was pursuing development agenda to achieve a sustainable growth, accelerated overall development and a faster rate of poverty reduction.
He said the state`s strategy has been to strengthen human development sectors such as education, health services, food and nutritional security, besides improving welfare of marginalised groups such as SCs/STs and women, reducing regional, social and gender disparities, and scaling up
investment in agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
Patnaik said that removal of disparities is one of the important development strategies adopted by the state and several measures have been initiated for the purpose.
The state government has undertaken a Rs4,550 crore Eight Year Perspective Plan for the backward Kalahandi- Bolangir-Koraput districts covering the period between 2009-10 to 2016-17.
