INDIA TODAY CONCLAVE

MAHARASHTRA BAGS TWO AWARDS AT

 THE INDIA TODAY CONCLAVE

New Delhi, 04^th Nov. :  Maharashtra has bagged two important awards, one for “Most Improved Large State” and another as “Best Mico-Economy State” at the India Today awards organized by the India Today Group in Delhi today.Both Maharashtra and Gujarat were declared as joint winners for Best Performed State.  The awards were presented by6 Shri Pranab Mukherjee at a glittering function at Hotel Hyatt. Number of Chief Ministers attended this function.  

In the conference organized by India Today group, CM said that India’s recent economic growth performance has been creditable. Such growth can make a huge difference on the lives of poorest and most vulnerable citizens. For this, it is necessary that the resources must be mobilized and deployed in such a manner that the recent high rates of growth are maintained and even increased. He further said that, it is a very challenging job as there has been a high degree of vertical imbalance between the Centre and States in their capacities to raise revenues, secondly there is spatial inequality in the fiscal capacity and fiscal needs of different states, and thirdly, decentralization initiatives and the increase pace of urbanization have considerably increased the fiscal obligations of local government.

Citing statistics of growth rates in recent years Shri Chavan informed about the foundations and problems of state. He also informed about some of the measures that can help both centre and the states in putting fiscal correction back on the track. He said that the proposed Goods and Service Tax will help in reducing the vertical imbalance between the centre and the states. He was of the opinion that improving governance is at the heart of securing a transformation in the quality of public expenditure in India. He further said that the approach to fiscal consolidation should be to incentives innovations, improvements and outcomes.

          While talking to the media after the award function, the CM said that Maharashtra always stood first in the filed of development and  now the  main challenge of the State is to stay ahead of others. He thanked  the India Today group for conferring this award to the State.  Agriculture, Health, Irrigation, electricity security, education etc. are the main thrust areas where  infrastructure development needs to be looked into, he added. He also thanked all his colleagues, people of the state and the administration for their valued support in getting such awards.

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