Plan panel thrust on ensuring faster and inclusive growth, says Montek

The Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, today said issues such as cash subsidy and PPP, especially raised by Bihar, would be addressed in the approach paper to 12th Plan.

“We will give thrust on ensuring faster and inclusive growth and sustainability,” Mr Ahluwalia said.

He was speaking to reporters along with the Union Minister of State for Planning, Mr Ashwini Kumar, on the sidelines of the regional consultation with five eastern States on the Approach Paper to be finalised by the Planning Commission.

Stating that the meeting of the Commission which began today was a “consultation process,” he said no decision was taken at the meeting.

“We heard the issues and views of the States and we will be holding similar meetings with the North-Eastern States, Southern and Western States in the next two to three weeks,” Mr Ahluwalia said.

“We will then finalise the draft for the 12th Plan period,” he said.

“I think the States have been very pleased to welcome the consultation process,” he said, adding, “we are happy to note that the States represented their views and raised issues to be covered in approach.”

There was emphasis on agriculture and development of infrastructure, Mr Ahluwalia said. He said there was no discussion on Bihar's demand on the special category status, saying the topic was neither on the agenda nor was this the subject of topic of the Planning Commission.

Mr Ahluwalia indicated that many more States have placed a similar demand but these will be discussed on a different platform (National Development Council).

He said the Union Minister, Mr Kumar, had raised the issue of projects under public-private partnership and said that one such project was being executed in Bihar with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore.

“From the Centre's point of view, many more such projects needed to be implemented,” Mr Ahluwalia said, adding the issue of backward States not receiving investments was also broadly discussed.

Mr Ashwini Kumar, said the issue of cash subsidy for schemes too figured during the discussion and “it is a relevant issue on which we will be holding consultation in future as well.”

The bigger issues raised by the backward States were lack of “direct investment,” he said and stressed the need for public investments there.

“The proportion of the private investment and the forms will be discussed for ensuring investment in backward States,” Mr Kumar said.

There are some States affected by the naxal problem, while some States face natural disasters such as floods every year and have to spend thousands of crores on relief, Mr Kumar said.

“We held constructive debate on short and long-term measures to be implemented in the affected States,” he said.

Referring to the Centre streamlining the number of schemes, the Minister said rationalisation of Centrally sponsored 110 schemes was being discussed threadbare.

The meeting was attended by Mr Nitish Kumar, the Orissa Chief Minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik, the Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Sudesh Mahto, the West Bengal Planning and Development Minister, Mr Manish Gupta, and the Deputy Chairman of Chattisgarh Planning Board, Mr Shivraj Singh.

The Commission had identified 12 major challenges to be addressed during the 12th Plan period and an approach paper would be worked out in the conclave.

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