Concerned over graft, govt to focus on governance in 12th Plan

Taking on board citizens' concerns over corruption and quality of governance, the 12th Five Year Plan proposes re-designing of government programmes even as it targets 9-9.5% economic growth with focus on health and education.

Aiming at 100% adult literacy, the next Plan (2012-17) proposes to increase expenditure on health from 1.3% to at least 2-2.5% of GDP.

The full Planning Commission meeting today presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was given a presentation about the ongoing 11th Plan and objectives of the 12th Plan.

The country is estimated to have recorded an annual growth rate of 8.2% during 11th Plan against 9% target. The performance was impacted by the global crisis and drought.

"The 12th Plan objective must be faster, more inclusive and also sustainable growth...We need to identify the critical areas where existing policies and programmes are not delivering results, and should, therefore, be strengthened or even restructured," Singh said.

The country, he said, needs to tackle new challenges which call for new initiatives.

Some of the challenges that Indian economy faces include accelerated inflation, global pressure on food and oil prices, quality of governance and weak manufacturing performance which can be given a boost by liberalising the policy on the foreign direct investment (FDI).

It said health and governance received less than projected resources in the 11th Plan.

The growing Indian economy will need a minimum additional power capacity of 1 lakh MW during the 12th Plan. While there was a need for further safety measures, the meeting emphasised that the nuclear power must be expanded.

Expressing concern over less than expected inclusive growth and the likelihood of missing the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it took on board the concerns on governance and empowernment.

"Citizen feedback reveals general unhappiness with governance and public service delivery. They believe that corruption is built into systems for public service delivery", the Plan panel paper said.

The Commission for the first time used Internet to reach out to broader community including hundreds of sectoral experts. Its website for the 12th Plan, which is linked to Facebook, received 32,000 visitors leaving insightful comments.

A series of regional consultations with the states are planned next month in the run-up to the meeting of the National Development Council (NDC), the highest policy making body comprising Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Chief Ministers.