PlanCom launches Facebook page on 12th Plan

For the first time, the Government of India has launched an interactive website to seek feedback and suggestion on various issues that would contribute to the approach paper of the twelfth Plan (2012-17). Views on the Plan can also be expressed through a Facebook page.

The website takes the United Progressive Alliance’s inclusive agenda to the next level, by highlighting 12 challenges that would help identify key areas in the Plan.

The planning commission had earlier launched a website where viewers could give suggestions, then forwarded to members concerned or departments. Through the new website, suggestions would be uploaded and viewed by readers in real time.

“We are working on an approach paper. Ideas come not only from organisations but also from individuals and therefore we have created this website,” said Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman, at the launch of the interactive website.

The commission has already received around 400 suggestions through the site as it carried out discussions and meetings with various stakeholders, including ministries and non-government organisations among others.

To figure out the key challenges across the economy, the commission has identified 34 sectors, including health, women, growth strategy for agriculture, rural infrastructure and skill development. Each field was explored across 10 systemic factors – citizens’ expectation, markets, governance and institutions and science and technology, among others – creating a matrix with 340 cells. Now the commission has shortlisted 12 key concerns.

The draft approach paper, expected to be out by March-end, will broadly mention issues on which the plan would be based. The details of the plan programmes and sector-specific details will then be charted out. The draft approach paper will also be uploaded on the website and will be open to feedback.

Once the final approach paper is ready, it would be approved by the Union Cabinet and the National Development Council, which includes Chief Ministers of all states.

The move was significant because five years ago, no Indian ministry could have boasted a flawless internet site and an interactive interface seemed out of the question.

However, today, with major ministries in India flaunting updated, content-driven and user-friendly websites, the commission is trying to take the internet revolution a step ahead. This, the plan panel believes, would end up providing the team the much-needed “out of the box” perspective.

The 12th Plan may also be one of the few that successfully started on time. Consultations for most other plans used to follow, not precede, the approach paper.