Planning course for NITI Ayog

While most analysts have welcomed the formation of the new institution in place of the Planning Commission, signs of whether it will play a new role in gearing up the development process are keenly awaited.

The Cabinet resolution, establishing the Aayog, pointed out that its objectives is “to evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies, with the active involvement of the States”. An important aspect of its work would be to work at the grass-root level and prepare plans for village uplift, keeping in mind the need to create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system, serving as a “repository for research in good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development”.

One may mention here that planning in the country has been rather lopsided and urban oriented. There has not been sufficient emphasis on the rural sector, whether it is development of physical or social infrastructure.

As a result of this, almost 50 per cent of the districts of the country are backward. The lack of regional balanced development of the country has been a major problem and most of the new schemes, announced by the Modi government, are aimed at transforming the rural sector. The Aayog has also to help in proper planning and ensuring that development takes place in a decentralized and sustainable manner.

The existing demographic, ecological and other socio-economic parameters have to be synthesized with the developmental needs of the village. Ideally, each village should have around 70 to 80 per cent of its public needs satisfied. Experts have suggested a ‘rural need survey’ for every village for ensuring that social change is effective.

The task of helping the poor has been started with the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) but the planning for this scheme needs to be changed so that the work carried out results in building assets, which could help the people for a few years. Others schemes such as the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana has been proposed to be implemented through a village development plan that would be prepared for every identified gram panchayat with special focus on enabling every poor household to come out of poverty.

The expertise of the Aayog would be of great help in this regard in making the village self-reliant and self-sufficient, as visualized by Mahatma Gandhi long ago. There is also a necessity of supply of renewable energy and modernization and diversification of micro, cottage and village-based industries to provide employment to the rural youth so that they do not migrate to the cities in search of livelihood. This has become imperative at this point of time for the country to make rapid strides in the path of social and economic development.

Will all the States, even non-BJP ruled be on board? Further, it is significant that the Cabinet had insisted that the vision plan should not be on borrowed ideas of other countries – where the scenario is completely different, as they do not have to tackle such huge population and high population density.

In an age where climate change and environmental factors are of concern to public policy makers as well as to the people, technology interventions have to be planned by the Aayog so as to change the thinking and accentuate the process of developmental work. This apart, there are suggestions that the annual performance reviews of departments may come through the Aayog with its comments and recommendations to the Cabinet.

Indeed, the determination and dedication of the Members of NITI Aayog would be of crucial necessity in gearing the organization towards those who have so far been at the receiving end.

The big question now is how soon will this new body deliver in line with the needs of a modern economy? While replacing and/or transforming the Commission has taken place, its policies and actions will reveal whether it is an effective instrument in providing necessary support and guidance to the States. And, more importantly to the masses!

By: Dhurjati Mukherjee