A meeting for planning future

National Development Council meeting took place yesterday so that the elected elite can plan for all around development of the country in terms of expenditures of the state. Ground plan for the twelfth five-year plan has begun. Elected people from all states of India were called and were given chance  to present their views. Performances of various past schemes were discussed; their performance in terms of their impact on common people was balanced with the audit of expenditures made. Growth must be shared by all, only then the nation would advance. There has been growth in industry and there has been reduction in poverty.Inclusion has been achieved. But is it sustainable? The total plan is to improve the standard of living of the common man. But contrary to this, subsidies will be reduced gradually. Outcomes were analysed in terms of productivity of investments; 25% has been invested in public sector and 75% in private sector. While analyzing  few policies had stood up to expectations. Partially implemented policies showed less progress like 6%. That was bad. Worse were there too:”policy lock jam” was reflected by many which were showing less than 5% progress. Sectors like agriculture, power, infrastructure, health, education, skill development were given highest priorities. Although half of our population is engaged in agriculture, it is lesser than 15% in our GDP now than before. By itself agriculture has improved. Agricultural growth has accelerated from 2.4% in tenth five-year plan to 3.3% in eleventh five-year plan. Manufacturing policies have not fared well as they had been planned,as the growth is not sustainable.  Many PPP (Private Public Partnerships) have been started but not finished. The ventures have halted. SEZs(Special Economic Zones) have failed. Mining industry is not faring well with strict environmental clearances. We are importing metals.In energy sector, we are importing 80% of our needs and offering it to the people at subsidized cost. It is not rational. There are regional imbalances. Some states feel they have not been given enough money for development. The backward states have done better than the national average and are progressing. Real wages of people has improved. When MGREGA(Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act) gives people work and correct wages, the demand for the workers had risen, and hence their wages. Production has increased but it has to go on to other sectors like water, sanitation, health and education. It has not.The outcome is that we need more meetings so that the central government can understand the needs of the state governments.