Seeking feedback from the general public, probably for the first time in its history of formulating five-year plans, the Planning Commission on Monday launched a website to elicit suggestions on the ‘Approach Paper' to the XII Plan (2012-17) so as to make the final document more inclusive and effective.
Since the approach paper, to be prepared by the Commission, is the basic starting point in laying down the major targets in various sectors of the economy, the key challenges that will have to be encountered and the broad strategy to be followed for achieving the set objectives, the feedback from the general public and other stakeholders is expected to help in charting out the approach path.
Speaking to the media at the launch of the web portal, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said: “This website would enable the general people give their views on how we should go about the next five- year Plan…This initiative would help those people who are kept out of the Plan formulation process, to give their valuable views.''
In its current format, the views uploaded on the website would be available only to the officials concerned. By the end of this month, a more dynamic version of this website is to be launched and this would be more interactive as the views and suggestions of others on the subject would also be available.
Mr. Ahluwalia said the approach paper for the XII Plan would be ready in the first half of 2011. Once ready, it would have to be cleared by the Union cabinet and placed before the National Development Council for its approval.
