(a) whether some State Governments presented their case at the recent meeting of India Development Forum held in Paris in May this year;
(b) if so, the precise details thereof; and
(c) the response of different donor countries and the consensus reached in this regard?
Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (SHRI BALASAHEB VIKHE PATIL)
(a) & (b): The theme for discussion at the India Development Forum held in May 2000 was `Poverty- States` Dimension`. Presentations were made by representatives of some State Governments on the following topics: -
1. Uttar Pradesh: Fiscal Reform and Public Sector Restructuring in Uttar Pradesh
2. Karnataka: Human Development in Karnataka
3. Andhra Pradesh: Approaches to Rural and Urban Poverty Reduction in Andhra Pradesh
(c): The presentations made by the State Governments were well received by the different donors / external agencies. The inclusion of the representatives of the States was viewed as an excellent addition to the forum, which led to a very healthy and constructive debate on the theme topic.