Transparency to be ensured in 12th Plan

With corruption and governance issues taking centre stage in Indian polity and society, transparency and effective administration of social-sector schemes would be the main themes in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17).

While, deliberations for social audit of flagship central schemes by independent agencies are on, broad contours are being set to usher in greater transparency, accountability and better governance in their implementation.

“Discussions are on for the social audit of rural schemes and other flagship programmes for bringing about greater transparency. While, certain aspects can be taken care of by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), NGOs and other independent agencies can also be roped in,” Planning Commission member Dr K Kasturirangan told Business Standard here.

He said institutions like Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) could be harnessed to ensuring effective distribution of resources to the targeted populace and checking pilferage.

Meanwhile, he said the Centre was mulling to introduce concept of flexi-funds in central schemes, which would allow the states to adjust almost 20 per cent of the welfare funds according to local needs. “At present, this model is being used in Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) institutions,” he informed. KVK is an institutional project of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) to demonstrate the application of science and technology inputs of agricultural research and education on farmland with the help of scientists.

He said a National Geographic Information System (GIS) has been proposed in India for interlinking and standardising data collected by different agencies for their holistic use and application.

Kasturirangan was in town to deliver keynote address at the annual convention of Lucknow Management Association (LMA) on the theme ‘Improving Public Services with Technology — Action Imperatives’.

In his address, he noted India was at the threshold of an unprecedented opportunity to realise incremental and transformational growth due to its average 7.7 per cent growth rate over the last decade.