He also said an estimate of Central funds that goes directly to civil society organisations by-passing the state needs to be included in the economic survey.
In his valedictory speech chief economic advisor to the Union finance ministry Dr Arvind Virmani said existing poverty alleviation funds was more than enough to bring BPL people up to the poverty line mark. However, in this regard he said the main bottle-neck was the way resources are transferred to the beneficiaries. He suggested use of smart cards and banking system to transfer cash to the bottom 50 per cent of the society as a method of poverty alleviation.
Virmani said government expenditure had no correlation with growth rates of economy. Stressing on the need to concentrate on public expenditure on roads and urban planning for development of towns to encourage the growth of arteries of commerce, Virmani said let a hundred town bloom as towns to make the country modern. He said the government should create an environment for private investment in skill development.
Source: The Times of India, 11th Oct,2007
