Asserting that it is impossible for the nation to develop unless states develop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that all states should play a key role in the creation of a new body to replace the Planning Commission.
"The process of policy planning also has to change from 'top to bottom' to 'bottom to top'. In countries such as the USA, think-tanks that function independently of the government have a major role in policy-making. In India too, there is a great deal of economic activity that happens outside the government setup, and there is a need to design policies for them as well," Prime Minister Modi said in his opening remarks at the consultation meeting with the Chief Ministers on replacing the Planning Commission.
"[All] states should have a key role in the new body to replace the Planning Commission. States sometimes feel there is no platform to express their views. There should be an effective mechanism to address inter-state disputes," he added.
Describing India as a combination of three teams, the Prime Minister stated that the current global scenario had offered India to take a big step forward.
"'Team India' is a combination of three teams - the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers; the Union Council of Ministers; and the bureaucracy in the Centre and States. The current global scenario has offered a chance for India to take a big leap forward. There is a need for abandoning the incremental approach and for [the creation of] a suitable body to replace the Planning Commission, so that the strengths of the country can be suitably harnessed," he said.
Stating that the relevance of the Planning Commission had been under question for more than two decades, Prime Minister Modi recalled that his predecessor, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had stressed upon the need for a relook at the body.
"The role, relevance and restructuring of the Planning Commission have been repeatedly questioned for more than two decades. The first introspection was done after the launch of economic reforms, in 1992, when it was felt that in light of changing government policy, a different approach was required. In 2012, the Parliamentary Consultative Committee stressed the need for a serious look at the Planning Commission and the need for a new body to replace it," he said.
"Former prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had stressed the need for a relook at the Planning Commission towards the end of his term," he added.
Recalling his own experiences of the Planning Commission when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that development was a priority for all.
"Can we develop a new mechanism that plans according to India's strengths, empowers states, and brings on board all economic activity including that which happens outside the government?" he stated.
"When I was the chief minister of Gujarat, I had attended meetings of the Planning Commission, and had felt the need for a better platform to articulate the view of states. Development is now a priority for all, and the time has come to develop a new mechanism to deliver growth and development," he added.
Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh met the Chief Ministers today to discuss various aspects relating to restructuring of the Planning Commission.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister sought the views of the Chief Ministers regarding the structure, scope and role of the new body that will replace the Planning Commission.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Jammu and Kashmir counterpart Omar Abdullah skipped today's meeting.
