Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has opposed the move of the Central government to dismantle the Planning Commission at a consultation meeting with Chief Ministers on the issue convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Sunday.
The Chief Minister told the meeting that the commission had been playing a pivotal role in the development of the country. Planning was essential as fruits of development had not reached all sections of society.
“Over the years, the Planning Commission has been quite instrumental in ensuring social equality, promotion of decentralised planning, and in the monitoring of human development; especially that of the socially and economically backward segments in the country's population. The proposed move to distribute the planning functions amongst the Ministry of Finance and subject matter ministries will result in loss of perspective and long-term view,” Mr. Chandy said.
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Mr. Chandy said the Central government’s “arbitrary decision” to dismantle the Planning Commission, without convening a meeting of the NDC or consulting the States, undermines the federal structure. “The proposal to replace it with a new body is half-baked, unwarranted, and ignores the need of planned development of the country.”
He said the abolition of the commission was likely to have an adverse effect on key areas such as monitoring of human development in the States, Scheduled Castes sub-plan and tribal sub-plan, facilitating and mainstreaming social sector reform, and promotion of decentralised planning.
On the alternative mechanism proposed, the Chief Minister said the new planning mechanism should be supported by a proper legal framework. As to the planning cycle, there should be a perspective plan spanning 15 to 20 years.
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The alternative mechanism, he said, should serve as a single-window clearance house for development problems of the State.
The mechanism could also be put to use for resolving problems the Central ministries were having with State governments. Arguing that decline in Plan fund transfers to the State should be stemmed, the Chief Minister said the Centrally-sponsored schemes should be confined to a few very large and major flagship programmes. Flexibility regarding guidelines and norms should be available to the State governments while implementing them.