New institution to replace PlanComm: TN bats for state representation

Welcoming Prime Minister's decision to replace Planning Commission with a new institution, Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam batted for state-Centre co-ordination, besides urging the Centre to respect views of the respective state governments.

The chief minister urged for abolishing the centrally-sponsored schemes, while suggesting the central funding should be based on the recommendation of the constitutionally-mandated finance commission.

Delivering his speech in the Prime Minister's meeting with the state chief ministers to discuss the new institution meant for replacing the Planning Commission, he said, while the role of the Centre and state had changed over the years, the relationship remained stuck in a much older mindset and the respective states had been at the mercy of the ministers in the Centre for various approvals.

"Hence, a very important element of the reform would necessarily be a systematic mechanism in the new institution to take on board the views of the states. Chief ministers must be given representation in the new body and the views of the states need to be heard at different levels in the hierarchy of the organisation to make planning a federally-empowered function with active participation of the states," he said.

The background paper talks about developing co-operative federalism and institutionalising it through a council of chief ministers and one need to be careful to ensure that the Council of Chief Ministers does not become a ritualistic exercise similar to the National Development Council or the Inter State Council. The proposed Council of Chief Ministers should be used to discuss issues concerning the nation and chief ministers' views should be heard and given due weightage.