Planning Commission to involve citizens in planning process

The Planning Commission proposes including citizens in the planning process. It plans to introduce a process which will help citizens participate in the 12th five-year plan.

On the 83rd birth commemoration of M V Rajasekaran lecture on the 'Challenges in the 12th Plan' in Bangalore yesterday, Planning Commission deputy chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia said a special portal would be launched soon where people would be able to post their suggestions.

"We plan to make the process more inclusive. We invite people to comment and post their approaches on the portal. The suggestions will be discussed while finalising the 12th plan," he said.

In addition to agriculture and industries, the plan would also address issues like governance, global development, development of science and technology and also the role of markets.

Elaborating on the challenges of the 12th plan, he said inclusion was a complex issue which has remained elusive though the country has demonstrated it has emerged as the second-fastest growing economy.

"Though we have demonstrated that we are the second fastest growing country, it has been difficult thing to achieve inclusion. It is a multi-dimensional target and poverty reduction is important part of inclusion process. The plan should also clearly define the role of state and Centre," he said.