The Planning Commission has finalized an annual plan of ten thousand five hundred crore rupees for Assam for the year 2012-13. The plan was approved after Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi met Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Commenting on the performance of the state, Mr Ahluwalia said, there has been constant improvement in the Gross State Domestic Product, GSDP, during the first three years of the 11th plan. He said, the performance by agriculture and allied sector has shown considerable improvement.

Briefing the Planning Commission about the development strategy, Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said, the vision of his government for the 12th year plan period will be creation of a vibrant and resurgent Assam.

The Planning Commission today approved a 16 per cent hike in Plan outlay for West Bengal for the current fiscal at 25,910 crore rupees. .Welcoming the decision, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her gratitude to for the hike in Plan outlay for her state. She said, discussions were also held about the road infrastructure, education, minorities, industry and agriculture. Ms. Banerjee said the potential of 10 lakh employment opportunities in West Bengal in the 12th Five Year Plan was also discussed in the meeting. Deputy Chairman of the Planning commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said, comprehensive discussions were held on infrastructure projects and possibility of using PPP in the State. He said, the Centre has also offered support to the state government on PPP initiative.

The Centre has formulated a National Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials. In a written reply in Lok Sabha today, Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar said, the Planning Commission has approved inclusion of Mission on Seeds in the restructured National Mission for Agriculture Extension and Technology for the 12th Plan. 

He said the seed component of the Mission aims at increasing production of quality
seeds, promoting new technologies and ensuring availability of seeds in contingent situations.