he Planning Commission on Wednesday approved 3,500 crore rupees Plan outlay for Manipur for the current fiscal, which is about 9 per cent higher than that in 2011-12. The annual Plan for the year 2012-13 for the state was finalised in New Delhi at a meeting between the Commission's Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

Expressing satisfaction over the performance of the state, Mr Ahluwalia said infrastructure gap in Manipur needs to be bridged on priority. He said the state should encourage private participation in infrastructure development.

Briefing the Commission on the development strategy of the state, the Chief Minister said the main thrust will be on reducing infrastructural deficit and expanding and strengthening capacity of key social sectors-health, education, women and child welfare, nutrition and food security. Mr Ibobi Singh said there is a need for closing the gap between the deprived local population and the rest of the country. It is therefore necessary that there is enough investment for expansion of social infrastructure for covering the disadvantaged section, backward, remote and border areas.