Plan paper for more Lok Pal-like bodies

Amid growing discontent against corruption, the approach paper to the 12th Five-year Plan on Saturday pitched for setting up of independent, fair and accountable institutions like the Lok Pal and Lokayuktas.

“One major institution, as mentioned in the approach paper, is the Lok Pal. But it is not the end, the paper also talks about change in procurement procedures, simplification of processes, distribution of natural resources, accountability of regulators, both for individual schemes and also overall,” said a senior Planning Commission official who participated in the meeting.

The paper, which was approved at the full Planning Commission meeting has a complete chapter on governance issues and corruption.

Officials said the paper also noted that to address corruption it was necessary to prevent corruption through simplified procedures for delivery of public services, and by introducing greater transparency in public procurement processes and allocation of scarce resources.

It said corruption was not only weakening confidence of the citizens in the quality of governance, but also imposing a huge cost, since a system vulnerable to corruption was more easily manipulated by the rich.

Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar called for a national mission on processing industries. Minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh is believed to have advocated a new programme, which would incorporate Indira Awas Yojana and water and sanitation schemes to make it more comprehensive.

The Railways minister, sources said, had suggested a dynamic fare structure which would link freight and passenger fares to inflation and input costs of the railways.