Scrap Planning Panel

Merits in dismantling:

Perspective plans are only the decorative coding of long term wishes of the heads of governments and nothing more.

The planning commission of Nehruvian days was  mainly meant for centralised planning with five year plans laying emphasis on different sectors of the economy in varying degrees from plan to plan. 

Of late it has grown to a mammoth size with little contribution directly to achieve the desired goals set from time to time.

It indulges in 'Annual' drill of clearing the quantum of plan ceilings to different states in separate meetings with the respective chief ministers. It hardly ever cared for the performance of the states really and effectively in terms of physical targets. A ritual of this type never disciplined the state-level panels but very much pleased the chief ministers attending such sittings politically although!

Having no statutory backing it never had the authority to have a final word in the allocation of scarce resources between and among the ministries or the states in particular but certainly halted the speed of disposals invariably. Its removal / replacement, due to its existing shape and strength, is the need of the hour. 

Alternative: National Economic Forum

We need an expert body to function as a storehouse of research and survey reports assisting different ministries in terms of feedback before and after a programme or scheme is taken up for approval and implementation in any department / ministry or in any state of the Indian Union.

Its inputs are meant to enable the departments to finalise the blueprints while putting into action the programmes of the elected governments in the five-year period they are elected to power as per the mandate of the people. 

In other words the expert body is to subserve the interest of the elected governments with all the technical tools and expert advice. 

It is to function like a reference point for government agencies for working out a strategy in implementation of its schemes and programmes.

It has to be a lean body with the following members selected for a period of five years by a team headed by the Prime Minister:

Five members from the academic institutions selected on the basis of their experience both as a teacher and an economic planner.

Five members from the pool of managers/ administrators in the public/ government sector with a proven track record of achievements in the field.

Secretariat 

It is to be headed by an officer of Joint Secretary level in G.O.I with a maximum staff of two dozen employees with different grades under his control to provide logistical support to the Forum in its working. He would report to the secretary in the ministry of Economic Affairs and seek his support and assistance for annual budget and coordination with other departments / ministries and the states.

Dr.P.Raghava

A senior citizen and a former civil servant,

A Visiting Fellow to Oxford University during 1993-94,

An economist and a columnist for articles on economic and social issues,

A social reformer and a whistle blower in the existing system of governance,

A poet with the publication of " Travails and Thrills of Third World Nations (India)"

A planner and experimentalist of alternative style in governance in all the posts held over 30 years (1972-2006)

A sincere advisor to the ministers and chief ministers at the cost of one's career.

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