The Hindu Business Line : Chidambaram calls for national model on delivery systems

The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, being welcomed by the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, at `The State of the States Conclave 2004' organised by India Today in New Delhi on Friday. - Rajeev Bhatt

New Delhi , Aug. 6

THE Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, today said that a national model on delivery systems should be evolved based on the best practices followed by the State governments in various fields. He also urged the States that are lagging behind in the race to try and adopt the systems followed by those that have adopted some of the best practices.

The Finance Minister pointed out that States that could be emulated were Kerala for its achievements in education, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal for healthcare and Maharashtra for food. He said that he was prepared to assist States achieve improved levels of delivery systems. ``If you see the ranking of States in terms of agriculture, consumer market, law and order, education and health, the States which have occupied the highest ranks continue to do so,'' Mr Chidambaram said at an India Today conclave on `State of the States'. The Finance Minister said that the divide between States was widening. ``We must find a mechanism by which the best practices of some States are adopted by other States,'' he said.

`Export schemes to be made WTO-compatible'

The Union Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, on Friday said that the national foreign trade policy (NFTP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government would unshackle the export sector from arduous bureaucratic procedures. Mr Kamal Nath, who had a meeting with the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, ahead of the release of the NFTP this month, said that all export promotion schemes would in the long run be made WTO compatible.

He said exports would get the highest priority of the Government to achieve higher economic growth. Besides, export-led growth has the potential for higher employment generation.

The Minister also made it clear that there was no specific proposal before the Government on the issue of entering into a free trade agreement on services with the US.

``The issue (FTA on services) was discussed in the Indo-US joint business council (JBC) and the Government is not involved in the issue as yet,'' Mr Kamal Nath told presspersons at the North Block in the Capital.