By IANS
Ahmedabad : The outcome of the Gujarat assembly polls is not just a verdict but also a mandate from people for “trustworthy leadership, clear policy and good objective”, Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma said Friday.
In an hour-long address to the first session of the new assembly, the governor said the people had put “full faith in devoted and honest efforts of my government”.
“The approach and work of the government that make Gujarat the best state have gained support through this mandate of the people”.
The address did not outline anything new, but was a catalogue of various development schemes the Modi government had launched during 2002-2007, especially on the social development side.
The governor said the planning commission, recognising the capacity of the state, has given a target of 11.2 percent growth for Gujarat during 2007-12. The state has taken up this challenge and would work to attain 14 percent industrial growth rate.
The state’s per capita income has gone up to Rs.26,543 from Rs.18,200 five years ago. Gujarat had implemented the 10th plan through good financial management instead of increasing the tax burden on the people, he added.
The governor said Gujarat’s progress on industrial growth especially its focus on infrastructure development had created for itself a favourable environment for investment. This has drawn the attention of entire Asia. China, Japan and Korea were now eager to invest more in the state.
The state has received approvals to establish 51 special economic zones (SEZ) from the centre. The implementation of these projects would generate more employment opportunities.
As part of the ambitious Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor project in collaboration with Japan, the state proposed to establish a special investor region at Dholera in Ahmedabad district and Dahej in Bharuch district.
On the industrial front, it was proposed to set up a bauxite plant in Kutch and a cement plant with a capacity of 2.4 million tonnes as joint venture with private participation.
The address said the government has proposed to generate 15,000 megawatts of power during the next five years.
The governor said “communal riots” were under control in the last five years and organised crime has been eliminated.
“At present, number of rapes in Gujarat is the lowest in India, which assures the dignity and safety of women in Gujarat. Crimes relating to murder and dowry has been reduced in the last five years.”
While the all India crime rate against women is 6.7 percent, it is only 2.5 percent in Gujarat.
The state attached much significance to development of roads. A state highway development project worth Rs.90 billion has been drawn up to improve 5,500 km of important state highway within next five years.
“This will cater to the needs of special economic zones, industries, ports, agriculture and tourism,” he said.
The new government, the governor said, is committed to economic progress through human sensitivities and development of human competence. “It is the resolve of my government to harness the strength and competence of 55 million people of the state to give Gujarat a global identity.”
In 2010, Gujarat would celebrate its 50 golden years of existence as a separate state. The government is hopeful that every citizen will take a golden vow and extend cooperation to take the state to the highest level in every field of activity, the governor added.