One of the essential pillars of the alternative policy and reforms being pursued by the Left Front is to ensure an effective move towards competition and specially in the relevant spheres of the domestic economy, he said. Decentralisation of the powers upto the panchayat level has been the keynote of the Government' functioning all these years as the IMF policy of liberalisation and reforms adopted at the national level has failed to solve the basic problems of the common people of the country relating to unemployment, inflation and deficiencies in the social sectors, he said.

Dr. Dasgupta placed specific proposals to attain the higher growth in employment generation Emphasis is therefore laid on rapid expansion of agricultural production. He said for increasing the production and employment generation in agriculture, simultaneously with land reforms, a emphasis has been laid on extension of irrigation facilities and provision of improved seeds and fertilisers. In the current year additional 1.20 lakh hectares of agricultural land have been brought under irrigation cover.

As a result the total net irrigated area in the State as a proportion of the total net agricultural area in the State has increased from 31% in 1977-78 to nearly 58% in 1998-99. Dr. Dasgupta proposed to bring under irrigation 66% of the cultivable area by the end of the Ninth Plan period that is 2002 AD. Simultaneously of course the Finance Minister proposed to provide irrigation facilities to an additional 2 lakh hectares of land during the next financial year and for the purpose the State's outlay in irrigation for the next year's Annual plan has been raised from Rs. 359 crores to Rs. 396 crores. He also made a proposal that 90% of the rural mouzas would be supplied power by the end of the Ninth Plan.

Rural electrification is required for augmentation of irrigation facilities and development of agricultural, allied and industrial activities in the districts. So the Annual Plan outlay for power has been raised to Rs. 2,011 crores next year from the current year's Rs. 1,577 crores. Another Rs. 120 crores have been earmarked for rural electrification specifically. There are taxation proposals worth Rs. 94 crores in the Budget which has limited deficit of Rs. 16 crores only.

Because of increased outlay on irrigation and power and provision of fertiliser and seeds, the rate of growth in foodgrains production in West Bengal stands at the top of the list of major foodgrains producing States.

Dr. Dasgupta said that the scenario for industrial investment was now becoming increasingly positive in the State. During the period from 1991 to 1998, 1,843 industrial projects involving investment of Rs. 48,626 crores were approved of these 302 projects involving investment of Rs. 7,799 crores were implemented and production started. In addition 80 projects with an investment of Rs. 10,030 crores are now under construction.

For industrial resurgence of the State, a hefty amount has been allocated infrastructures other than power too. There has been a considerable hike in the development of roads too. To sustain a rapid growth in agriculture and industry the Annual Plan outlay for the next year has been raised to Rs. 6,289 crores from the current year's Rs. 4,950 crores. With additional efforts at decentralisation, for decision making in more than 50% of the total plan outlay, the panchayats, and the municipalities will be directly involved. The target of growth rate in the of the State Domestic Product for the next year is fixed at 7.5% much higher than GDP at the national level.

For universalisation of primary education within the Ninth Plan period at least 8,000 new primary Schools are proposed to be set up. Along with conventional primary schools, child education centres will be set up with the aid of the panchayat samitis and village education committees. The Finance Minister proposed that in the next year 4,000 such child education centres would come up in both urban and rural areas of the State. Vocational training centres at one higher secondary school in each block in the district is also on the agenda, and for this purpose the outlay on education has been raised to Rs. 296 crores next year from the present Rs. 208 crores.

He also announced a fresh incentive scheme for the industries in the State. To help the industry and trade, Dr. Dasgupta proposed abolition of multipoint sales tax. Out of a total of 550 commodities from now on, about 530 commodities will be taxed at the first point only.

Only 20 commodities will be taxed at both the first and the second point of sale. For the implementation of the incentive scheme for industries which will be introduced from April 1 next the districts of the States will be recognised into three groups. The industries will be given sales tax and other relief for specified period. Special packages of incentive for individual mega projects with investments above Rs. 500 crores will considered to encourage large-scale investment in the State.

In the Budget taxes on milk powder, typewriters computer, pumpset, motor parts, photocopy machine, duplicating machine biscuit, razor blade, shaving set printed national such as diary and calendar silk, will be reduced at different rates.