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God Save The Planning Commission (and us)

The Long delayed Planning Commission’s 12th five year plan was finally approved by Cabinet yesterday. The Plan reports are prepared by Planning Commission and approved by government *before* the expiry of the current plan. However, though the last Plan expired in 2011, the 12th Plan report was still in works. And ostensibly they needed another 10 months of 2012 to ready a five year plan, which for all the practical matters is now a Four year – two month plan.

I was also very curious about this because many economists have laid all the blame of economy’s under-performance due to lack of 12thplan. In Indian contexts these plans are important milestones as they signify the extent and thrust of investments and expenditure. They are the legacy of Nehruvian-era we have not shaken off

Many have accused Montek Singh Ahluwalia of causing the repeated delays in formation and finalizing of the report. And this accusation may not be far-fetched if you consider the huge fuss about number of days Montek has spent in his office and in travels. [Google it for a nice brew of evening controversy.]

I have been trying get my hands on the complete set of report – as approved by the cabinet – but I have not got anything. Google can’t show me the way. The Finance ministry, Planning Commission and even the official 12th Plan website does not have any updates of the report.

This is pure arrogance and carelessness on part of the government. If Government has approved a certain report, and they are going to make decisions based on it, is it not a good governance to provide such a report to wider audience? There are only sketchy details on the journal and news websites. Unless I have totally failed in my Googling, I would bet the details published by news sources are from handouts and press releases by Government. But the moot point is: where is the damn report?

We all know Planning Commission has diligently prepared a reports using reams of statistics and primary data (and Montek’s research travels) to come out with a report that will decide the fate of 1 billion plus Indian for next five years. Not just that, it will also decide the fate of Rs 47 Lakh Crores that are supposed to be spent, (If my sketchy details are right), in, wait for it -- roughly Four years! That is a planned expenditure of approximately 12 Lakh Crores on various scheme or programs a Year! That is -- a planned expenditure of about 1 Lakh Crores a Month!

Now, India a large country and a growing economy with young population, we definitely this kind of mega spending to get to become a top nation. And as said, we are pretty sure, the people who are going to spend or have decided to spend have done their work well. Unfortunately, it does look to be so.

Below is attached a screen shot of the Planning Commission’s 12thPlan.Gov.In the official website for the Plan / Report. [click to enlarge]

12the five year plan is a total scam


If this website has any semblance to the prepared report then we are all _ _ _ _.

First, I do not know why does a government body need a disclaimer! Even assuming they do need it to safeguard from financial perverts, we would expect them to keep their website perfect, at least ahead of such a crucial data release. What careless bonkers!

Second, I have no idea what makes the Planning Commission a sole authority and "owner" of the publication that has been funded by Taxpayers money. Apart from ensuring the integrity of the data, they should have no role whatsoever in “owning” the data.

Three, there is no excuse for not publishing the report.

Now the funnies….

Fourth, Planning Commission does not want you to do anything “legal” with the data. Therefore, you basically have a freehand to do the illegal things with the data!

Fifth, such a blatant Copy-Paste errors, it should shame them. You can bet they did not proof read it even for a minute. [Or will they blame the poor IT guy?]

Sixth, Why does any Indian need to take permission of PC to print or use the report? As long as the integrity of the data is maintained, PC should have no job in owning the data or complaining about it.

Seventh and probably the most important. I am not sure how I should interpret “Should not be used in derogatory manner” in these clauses. So we are only to praise their lofty thoughts and foresight and say not a word in criticism? Even, giving them the benefit of doubt that they are not being curtailing the Freedom of Speech and criticism, it still reeks of the PC’s control on the data-sets.

As mentioned earlier, if this is the standard of how this crucial report was prepared by Planning Commission, we are all dead.

BTW, if you find the report please share it. Or if it hiding somewhere is 'plain' sight, please let me know! Thanks. :)

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