Mid-term Plan review to focus on CMP

The mid-term appraisal (MTA) of the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-07) is likely to be finalised by the middle of November.

In line with the prime minister's directive, the Planning Commission is expected to use the mid-term appraisal to introduce an emphasis on the objectives listed in the United Progressive Alliance government's common minimum programme (CMP).

The Planning Commission will also finalise the names of members of various consultative committees by next week. Each member of the Planning Commission is constituting groups with experts in specific fields, members of civil society and others from outside the government to provide a fresh perspective to planning.

Most central ministries and departments have already provided their inputs to the Plan body.

In addition to devising various ways of achieving the common minimum programme objectives, the mid-term appraisal of the tenth Five Year Plan will also focus on ways to improve service delivery, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and restructuring of schemes, several of which are seen as having faulty designs or being inefficiently run. Agriculture, health and education, three sectors viewed as having being ignored by the previous government, will be emphasised.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram had in a meeting with the Planning Commission members and officials on Tuesday, asked them to 'rearrange priorities' and advise the government on how to make various centrally-sponsored schemes more effective.

While radical change would not be possible mid-year, significant changes would take place next year, Finance Minister Chidambaram had said.

The Planning Commission was also asked to look at efficiency of Plan expenditure so that effective schemes get more funds.

The mid-term appraisal would also indicate which schemes needed greater focus, said officials at the Planning Commission.

Schemes like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, mid-day meal scheme, food for work programme, Accelerated Irrigation Development Programme and drinking water schemes, which are important from the point of view of the common minimum programme are expected to be evaluated in great detail by the Planning Commission.