‘Govt needs to re-invent itself’

The government needs to reinvent itself for meeting aspirations of the people, Planning Commission deputy chairperson said on Friday, a day before a full plan panel headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets to finalise the approach paper to the 12th plan.

The government needs to reinvent itself for meeting aspirations of the people, Planning Commission deputy chairperson said on Friday, a day before a full plan panel headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets to finalise the approach paper to the 12th plan.

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“Government needs to reform itself,” Ahluwalia said, while reacting to adverse remark in two Parliamentary standing committees on functioning of the plan panel. Contrary to the view of these committee, he said the panel has reformed itself as there was bigger attempt to outreach the view outside the government.

“Twenty years ago 80 % of the expert view was being generated within the government. Now, only 20% is being generated. Rest is coming from outside experts,” he said.

Ahluwalia also made it clear that the panel was not a “sounding board” for whatever the ministers suggest and has been trying to build consensus on issues by holding regular consultations.

The economist also termed the new nine percent target for the 12th plan as an ambitious one and agreed that it has been downgraded from earlier target of 9 to 9.5 %. “Achieving 9.5% is not feasible,” he said and added that the approach paper attempts to achieve four percent growth rate in agriculture.