Indian Government New Policy Reform

We all must have read about five year government plan in social sciences during our school days. It was a Nehru’s vision which was inspired or I should say copied from USSR policy of five year plan. As a policy reform, the current Indian government led by Prime Minister Narender Modi is going to introduce 3 year action plan which is part of the 7 years strategy and 15 year vision.

As the new government is about to outdate the 5 year plan which is part of my school memory when I used to gulp it to score in exam, and which was shot-sure question to make as guest appearance in the question paper; Let us rewind our memories and cherish the impact it made in development of the country.

1.    It lifted social sector of India

2.    Gave birth to heavy industries in developing India.

3.    Government got systematic expenditure plan for every five years to methodically invest the people’s money for development.

That is the reason, over the years we have seen slow but a progressive growth. I know many learnt people will use their wisdom and they will say about particular political party or government or individual that they haven’t utilised the money and filled their pocket keeping personal gains in significance. To such sagacious people, I have only one question to ask; how India travelled so long on the development track without crashing like Pakistan?

Anyways, when I came to know about new ingenuity of policy reform by the Indian government, I had only one doubt in my mind that why 5 year plan is no more required? I made some time consuming research and spent lot of time reading to discover the logical truth. India is a country of diverse societies and associated challenges. A central solution such as 5 year plan is not the precise road map to overcome these challenges. Also, we had seen in past that there were states that used to get less fund compared to the developmental needs. The planning commission was also seen imposing the funds and policies without considering the state government point of view.

I know after reading the previous paragraph, your mind must be in a long thought process that how a 3 year plan is going to make metamorphosis. I am going to highlight few significant points which makes 3 year plan different from the 5 year plan.

1.    Nitti Ayog replaces Planning commission

2.    Nitti Ayog is a new body for policy direction.

3.    Nitti Ayog will only advise the government of the points to be considered in 3 year plan.

4.    Unlike planning commission, they don’t have any financial power.

5.    The recommendations need to be approved by union cabinet.

Any reform is for virtuous and time will determine its usefulness. The new reform is giving undue advantage to union cabinet, and as I always say, as a nationalist one should believe in the elected government.