Plan panel to provide written note on 15 flagship schemes

The Planning Commission has decided to prepare a set of written recommendations on 15 flagship schemes of the Centre so that the new government may not change their basic and important components after the General Elections.

The Commission's term is coterminous with the existing government. After the General Elections, the new government reconstitutes the Planning Commission.

"It was decided in a recent internal Planning Commission meeting that the panel will provide a set of written recommendations for the new Commission on 12th Plan, particularly 15 flagship schemes," an official source said.

The meeting of the Commission was chaired by its Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Planning Minister Rajeev Shukla and other members.

The flagship schemes on which the Commission is keen on providing its input in writing include Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

The source said: "As per set precedents, it is generally very difficult for the new government make major changes in policies of their predecessor when something in writing exists."

The Commission would also put forth a holistic picture of the current economic situation as the new Commission would conduct the mid-term appraisal of the 12th Five Year Plan document.

"The current economic scenario indicates that the new Commission would have to scale down the annual average economic growth target of 8 per cent under the five year policy period as it would not be feasible," the source said.

The tenure of the 12th Five Year Plan which is drafted by the existing Commission and approved by the country's apex planning body National Development Council (NDC) will terminate on March 31, 2017.

The NDC headed by the Prime Minister with all chief ministers and Union cabinet ministers on its board had approved the 12th Plan policy document in December, 2012.