Planning Commission to partner state planning boards in 12th Plan

The Planning Commission will adopt a collaborative approach with state planning boards during the course of the 12th Five Year Plan, in order to achieve the stated objectives of the central government, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said.

Speaking at a meeting with vice chairmen of state planning boards and planning secretaries to exchange views on key issues facing the centre and the states, on Friday, Ahluwalia said it was the first time that a consultation was being held with vice chairmen of state planning boards and planning secretaries of the states.

States have in the past only been consulted at the time of the annual plan discussions with chief ministers, and when all states come to the National Development Council, he noted.

The meeting was convened as part of the Planning Commission's efforts to outreach to states to exchange views on critical policy issues in the 12th Plan.

Ahluwalia said while there were many sector-specific success stories in many parts of the country, these were not sufficiently acknowledged or replicated. The efforts of the Planning Commission as also its funding methods should be restructured to encourage experimentation and innovation, and to reward success, he added.

Ahluwalia emphasised the need for scenario planning where planners go beyond making a single or best-case prediction, based on ideal policies.