New plan body to set ‘vision’ of long tern growth

The participants of the meeting convened by the PMO agreed that the prime role of the new body should be to set the nation’s long-term growth vision.

The experts shot down a proposal to give the allocation function to the finance commission, saying a constitutional body would lack the flexibility to conceptualise and formulate schemes and the expenditure.

There was almost complete unanimity that the existing panel had “failed to deliver.” The discussions revolved around four main functions, long-term vision, allocations, coordination and appraisal.

It was agreed that except for convening the meeting of the National Development Council, all coordination jobs, Centre-state, inter-state and inter-ministerial should be left to the new body.

“In the absence of financial clout, there were suggestions to give the new body some statutory backing to ensure all stakeholders listen to its directions,” a source said. The the appraisal and evaluation functions could be given to the finance ministry, he added.

“All these ideas will be sent to the PM, and he decide on the new body,” Yashwant Sinha said.