Economic growth of 8.5 percent during UPA Government: Manmohan Singh

BHUBANESWAR - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the Indian economy has witnessed a growth of 8.5 percent during the regime of the current UPA Government.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the inaugural function of the 92nd session of the Indian Economic Association in Bhubaneswar here.

Singh said the economic reforms have brought down the number of people living below the poverty line.

The Prime Minister also talked about the problem of climate change, asking for the support of other countries to find ways to combat the problem.

Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, who was also present on the occasion, said all efforts should be made to strengthen the poor and weak states economically.ingh also laid the foundation stone of the proposed campus of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) at Argul, 25 kilometers from here.

The Prime Minister arrived here in a special IAF aircraft today morning on a six-hour visit to the state.

Orissa Governor M C Bhandare, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other senior government officials received the Prime Minister on his arrival at the Biju Patnaik Airport. (ANI)