Quote:Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called upon states to do more to improve farm sector performance, so critical to tackling food security and inflation. He asked chief ministers at the 55th National Development Council meeting to support the Centre’s efforts to implement the Goods and Services Tax from April 1 next year, and pay particular attention to the power sector that has piled up losses of Rs 40,000 crore in 2009-10.

While the PM said he expected inflation to come down to 6 per cent by December, he asked states to invest more in agriculture to improve the livelihoods of rural Indians. “The Planning Commission’s assessment is that agriculture is not receiving the priority it deserves. This must be corrected if we want to achieve a broad-based improvement in living standards in rural areas,” he said.