NEW DELHI, JANUARY 21 (PTI): Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today assured chief ministers of north eastern states to accomplish infrastructure projects in the region before 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) and discussed how to expand universal health care.
“We have indicated that we are putting up various mechanisms to make sure what we said (on infrastructure projects). And by the end of 12th plan would get achieved. This meeting is a really separate meeting. I wanted to discuss with them their ideas how to expand universal health care,” Ahluwalia told reporters after a meeting with the chief ministers at Yojana Bhawan.
Ahluwalia said this was an exploratory meeting to look at their ideas and trying to develop them further on expanding health care in the region.
“So we will have other meetings with them,” he added.
In the morning, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called a meeting with the chief ministers of north eastern states and directed the Planning Commission to set up a committee with representatives from the region and improve coordination for development of infrastructure.
At the meeting with chief ministers of the north eastern states, the Prime Minister said Centre view infrastructure development in the region as a key element in the strategy for developing the region and increasing connectivity with the rest of the country.
The meeting was organised by the Planning Commission which is the nodal agency initiating and monitoring developmental work in northeast region.
Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul Sangma, who was one of the attendees, said there was a discussion on healthcare delivery system and leveraging the universal healthcare programme.
“We discussed about our health delivery system and ensure that the better health care facility prevail across the region. Lots of ideas are being discussed,” Sangma said.
