The specific objectives of the Ninth Plan included : (i) Priority to agriculture and rural development with a view to generate adequate productive employment and eradication of poverty; (ii) Accelerating the growth rate of the economy with stable prices; (iii) Ensuring food and nutritional security for all, particularly the vulnerable sections of the society; (iv) Providing the basic minimum services of safe drinking water, primary health care facilities, universal primary education, shelter and connectivity to all in a time-bound manner; (v) Containing the growth rate of population; (vi) Ensuring mobilization and participation of people at all levels; (vii) Empowerment of women and socially disadvantaged groups, such as the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, and minorities as agents of socio-economic change and development; (viii) Promoting and developing people’s participatory institutions, like the Panchayati Raj Institution, co-operatives and self-help groups; and (ix) Strengthening efforts to build self-reliance.