Plan comm members mull role of central planning body

There is some serious soul searching happening in the corridors of the planning commission. Sources say that last week the planning commission met and introspected whether a central planning authority is needed at all in an increasingly federal structure.

It is learnt that primarily a significant development in the recent past, which has prompted the commission to question in a way it’s own relevance, which is the increasingly important role being played by the state governments. Some within the commission feel that there is a clear misalignment between the interest of the state and the centre and some are even questioning whether it has been able to bridge that and create some sort of consensus between the two.

Some members feel that state governments should be given more autonomy in the way they want to utilise the funds that has been allocated to them. Some senior officials also say that few members are a little miffed at the slight delay in the commissioning of the 12th 5-year plan.

One of the member even said that the delay has to a certain extent undermined the role of the planning commission. One can only hope that other government department can also take a leaf out of planning commission’s book because there is a lot of soul searching required elsewhere in the government as well.

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