Odisha CM supports move to revamp plan panel

Supporting Narendra Modi- government's move to restructure Planning Commission, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said the initiative was aimed at shaping the shared vision of transforming India in the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Participating in the Chief Ministers' meeting convened by the Prime Minister to discuss the issue, Patnaik said the structure and processes of the new planning institutional set up must be framed in a manner that ensures "just, fair and equitable resource allocation respecting the principles of federal polity."
Patnaik said the Prime Minister is well aware of the problems that the opposition-ruled states face on account of Centre's bias as both of them have experienced the planning process from the other side for over a decade.

"The planning process and distribution of resources during last six decades have not entirely been guided by merit and necessity which has resulted in a serious imbalance in development across states and unsatisfactory performance in human development indicators," the Chief Minister said.
Proliferation of centrally-sponsored schemes has gradually eroded the flexibility of the states in designing development programmes suited to the specific needs of the states, he said.
Giving examples of how Odisha was "deprived of its due share in the past", he said, "Despite Odisha contributing over Rs 14,000 crore annually or about one-tenth of the total revenues of the Indian Railways, the Railways have not been able to plough back even 20 per cent of the collected revenues into the state."

"Accordingly, the railway density in Odisha at 15 km remains significantly lower than the national average," Patnaik added.
Till date, three-fourth of total gram panchayats in the state do not have a brick and mortar bank branch. How can financial inclusion be ensured when three-fourth of the state does not even have a banking system in place? he asked.