Raghu, Duflo, Dreze on TN economic advisory panel

June 21, 2021 15:42

Outlining the newly elected DMK government's policy, Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday said Tamil Nadu is fully committed to achieving greater autonomy for states and at the same time maintain cordial ties with the Centre.

The Governor, in his ceremonial address to the 16th Assembly, his first following the formation of the DMK government in May said an Economic Advisory Council to the Chief Minister would be constituted with leading experts including Nobel laureate Prof Esther Duflo.

The government would take all necessary measures to counter the "possible third wave" of COVID-19 and urged the Centre to increase allocation of vaccines and reject the Mekedatu dam project proposal of Karnataka. Besides Duflo, former RBI Governor, Raghuram Rajan, former chief economic advisor to the union government Arvind Subramanian, development economist Prof Jean Dreze and former Union Finance Secretary S Narayan would be part of the Economic Advisory Council, he said.

"This is to reverse slowdown in economic growth, and to chart a rapid growth path. Based on the council's recommendations the government would take steps to revitalise economy and see that the benefits of growth reached all segments of society," he said.

The fiscal health of the state is a cause for concern and the government would focus on improving it and bringing down debt burden and a white paper on Tamil Nadu's finances would be released in July.

"This government stands fully committed to achieving its ultimate goal of greater autonomy for states and establishment of true federalism at the union level through constitutional means. Strong states are needed to create a strong union. This government will staunchly stand in defense of the rights of the states and constitutionally oppose any infringement of such rights."

At the same time, the state would maintain a cordial relationship with the union government as partners in nation building in line with the policy of "extending our hand in friendship, even as we speak up for our rights."

The Tamil Nadu government is guided by the spirit of the Dravidian movement and identified social justice, gender equality, economic equity, opportunity for all through reservations and progress through education and social reforms as its core values. "These values will drive every action, every legislation, every scheme, every initiative of this government," the Governor said.

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