Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa today said the state would grow over 20 per cent as compared with the nation's GDP over the next 10 years. Agriculture, human resource and industries would be the key growth drivers.
In her Independence Day speech on Wednesday, she said the state had already started some initiatives towards achieving the target.
The chief minister said in 2010-11, foodgrain production was 7.6 million tonne, which increased to 10.6 million tonne, an increase of around 39 per cent.
“It was achieved despite Karnataka government not releasing our (Tamil Nadu's) share in the Cauvery water that impacted the Kuruvai (known as short-term in Tamil to define the crops grown) season. Since the state government has given 12 hours three-phase power, it helped Kuruvai cultivation,” the chief minister said.
If the state has to grow, it is also important to focus on human resource, she said. The state government has taken steps to set up engineering colleges in the districts of Theni, Dharmapuri and Thanjavur.
Besides, it has allocated around Rs 100 crore to take up development works in colleges.