CAG on Gujarat model: 'Agriculture, industry and social sectors hit'

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has observed several "deficiencies" in the much-hyped Gujarat model saying the state suffered in agriculture, industry and the social sectors.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has observed several "deficiencies" in the much-hyped Gujarat model saying the state suffered in agriculture, industry and the social sectors.

Gujarat-s-much-hyped-agriculture-sector-was-also-exposed-by-the-CAG-which-found-negative-growth-rate-during-the-year-2012-13-when-Narendra-Modi-was-the-chief-minister-Kalpak-Pathak-HT-File-Photo

The CAG made these remarks in its audit reports for the year 2013-2014, when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

The reports tabled in the state assembly on Tuesday found "significant deficiencies" by the Gujarat government in implementing schemes for protection and welfare of female children, a pet cause espoused by Modi across several platforms.

'Gujarat not doing enough to stop female foeticide'

The auditor rapped the state government on the continuing decline in the child sex ratio. “It is observed that sex ratio at birth in 15 of the 26 districts of the state declined in 2013 as compared to 2012 as per data of civil registration system.

"As per Census 2011, the trend of overall sex ratio of the state (Gujarat) has declined (from 920 girls to 919 girls), though the all-India ratio had improved from 933 girls to 943 girls per 1,000 boys as compared to Census 2001," the CAG social sector performance audit said.

The CAG report expressed dissatisfaction on the steps taken by the Gujarat government to stop female foeticide in the state.
"Out of a total 181 cases filed under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act, only 49 cases were finalised as on March 2014 and out of these 49 cases finalised, the accused were convicted only in six cases. The pendency period of these cases ranged from one year to 12 years," the CAG report said.

"The pendency period of these cases ranged from one year to 12 years," the auditor noted in its report.

The state’s performance in primary education sector has also fared poorly in the auditor’s scrutiny. In the compliance audit of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme, it stated that out of 43,176 government-run schools in the state, 64 schools having 5,698 students run without any teacher. Further, 874 schools function with merely one teacher as on March 2014.

'Negative growth in agriculture'

The state's much-touted agriculture sector was also exposed by the CAG which found negative growth during the year 2012-12.

As against 21.64 per cent growth in 2010-11 and 5.02 per cent growth in 2011-12, Gujarat registered -6.96 per cent growth for the first year in the 12th Five Year Plan.

However, it also noted that during the 11th five year plan period (2007-12) the average agriculture growth rate of Gujarat was 5.49 per cent per annum as compared to all India average growth rate of 4.06 per cent per annum.

In its observation about the animal husbandry sector, the CAG expressed dissatisfaction about the non-availability of data to assess the claims of government in achieving targets. The report also summed-up that targets in this sector remained 'largely unachieved.

'Gujarat PSUs made losses'

The CAG also said that 20 Gujarat state government-run public sector undertakings (PSUs) incurred losses of Rs 1,111.85 crore.

Commenting on the performance of Gujarat state government-run PSUs for 2013-14, the report stated that out of 72 working PSUs, 46 earned profits of Rs 3,363.96 crore, while 20 PSUs registered losses.

The major loss making companies are GSPC Pipavav Power Company Ltd, Gujarat State Energy Generation Ltd, GSPC Gas Company Ltd, Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation and Gujarat State Financial Corporation.