NITI Aayog: What makes its Significant?

Recently, NITI Aayog or National Institution for Transforming India Aayog has been constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi disbanding 65 year old Planning Commission of India.

As per the structure, the Prime Minister will the Chairman as used to be Planning Commission. Lets have a look on the other officials of the NITI Aayog.

Arvind Panagariya has been appointed as Vice Chairman. The institution has total seven union ministers in the panel and the chief ministers of states and Lt. Governors are in Governing Council.

Well, this is the fist time any such institution has given privilege to chief ministers, comparing to the working model of planning commission, this was not possible even to hear the chief ministers concerns.

However, they used to meet the vice chairman of planning commission, but the allocation were subject as per the five year plans and other criteria in force.

So, NITI Aayog is scoring more comparing the model of functioning of planning commission. The seven union minister in the panel of NITI Aayog are - Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Suresh Prabhu and Radha Mohan Singh were Ex-Officio Members. Where as, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Zubin Irani and Thawar Chand Gehlot are Special Invitees.

Bibek Debroy and V. K. Saraswat were full time members and Sindhushree Khullar is Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog.

Indian economy need an institution which plan allocations of resources and execute plans adopting a growth model. Whenever we talk about Indian economy, it is obvious that we go for a mixed economy model neither capitalist nor fully welfare.

In this aspect, the Gandhian model of economic growth will be a good fit for our economy. On the contrary, the planning commission was not seen adopting these models in last 65 years.

Rural development is the core model of Gandhian principles on Indian economy. That does not mean discourage modern or big industries.

It seems, NITI Aayog will draw a line between protection and promotion of rural development through industrialisation. And, keeping the growth momentum of large scale industries.

This makes NITI Aayog a significant institution that could bring a big change in the planning and resources allocation keeping the growth model in mind.

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Economy to grow at 5.5% in 2012-2013: Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said that the Indian economy will grow at a rate of 5 to 5.5% in 2012-2013 fiscal year.

As per media reports, in an interview to PTI, Montek Singh Ahluwalia said "It (GDP growth rate) would be somewhere between 5 and 5.5 per cent. If everything worked perfectly, I would not rule out seven per cent next year (2013-14)."

As per his words economy would give signs of recovery if the strength of recovery continues. Couple of days back, India President Pranab Mukhaerjee at the inauguration ceremony of 20th International Engineering and Technology Fair (IETF), said "Though our economic growth has recently declined somewhat, I am confident that we will be able to bring the deceleration to a halt and revert to the eight per cent growth levels that we attained many times in the past."

Due to subdued interest from Investors and some global factors, in 2011-2012 fiscal year, economy has come down to 6.2 from 9.3 percent in 2010-2011.

While talking to Reuters in an interview Social activist and Leader of Aam Admi Party, Arvind Kejriwal said that the figures are just meant for few people in India as a common man is always living the miserable life whether GDP increases or decrease.

Prime Minster's Economic Advisory Council C. Rangarajan also predicted the economy to bounce back to 6.5-7 in current fiscal year and predicted of more recovery in subsequent years.

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SNPs best implemented in Odisha: Planning Commission

By Sandeep Pattnaik 
& Brahmi Priya Samantray

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has achieved a higher scale in delivery of Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) services, as its frequency of delivery services is above 80%, a Planning commission survey said.

As per the commission's report, programmes under SNP, which provides for quality nutritional food to children and pregnant women in the state, remain above satisfactory level.

This was made possible by decentralization of Supplementary Nutrition Programme, an initiative by the state government, under which Anganwadi Centers (AWC) are empowered to procure food materials locally at an affordable price.

In a State Level Monitoring & Review Committee Meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sri Bijay Kumar Patnaik, W & CD Secretary, Smt. Arati Ahuja outlined about the production of supplementary nutrition involving community through local women group.

The said programme was also hailed for its success by Commissioners of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, Ahuja said.

Citing the decentralization process of procuring foods under SNP as the best practice followed by the W & CD department of Govt of Odisha, Hon’ble Commissioners Dr. S. R. Saxena and Sj. Harsh Mander recommended the model to be followed by other states.

The Planning Evaluation Organization (PEO) of Planning Commission in its quick evaluation study of Major Developmental Programmes in left wing infected districts also found out high level of satisfaction among people for AWC services in left wing affected areas.

While congratulating the department for these achievements Chief Secretary Sri Patnaik has advised to empower the Janch committees and Mothers committees with more knowledge & information on nutrition.

Sri Patnaik has also advised them to plan for their orientation and training at block level through reliable NGO’s. The department has been advised to develop a comprehensive plan for communication on nutrition in consultation with experts from State Institute of Health and draw up a year long calendar of communication activities.

Chief Secretary has advised the department to undertake training programmes for SHG engaged in THR (Take Home Ration) production and ICDS supervisors about how to maintain nutrition level in THR.

Other important issues that figured in meeting related to fighting malaria, malnutrition, making CHC’s ( Community Health Centers) more effective, service oriented and attractive for handling institutional delivery.

Opinion was expressed in the meeting that the mothers should be encouraged to stay at least for 2 days in the hospital with their new born babies for proper care and treatment. Chief Secretary advised to department to plan out details for giving them child health, feeding and sanitation information along with a model baby kit in hospital.

The Development Commissioner Sri Jugal Kishore Mohapatra advised the department to prepare a detail plan for development of maternal and child care units in CHCs and ensure deployment of gynaecology specialist in each CHCs. The department has been advised to saturate distribution of mosquito nets in all the endemic areas and take up intensive campaign for prevention and detection of activities in all these areas.

Reviewing Pre-school and early child hood education activities in ICDS centers Chief Secretary has advised the department to develop a best model for children with inputs from experts and activist operating in the filed of early childhood education.

Secretary Rural Development Sri S.N.Tripathy participating in discussion on sanitation activities in AWC suggested that the beneficiaries covered under MAMATA can be obliged to construct their household toilets. And if they do it added Sri Tripathy, Department will provide them financial and technical assistance to the tune of Rs.10, 000/-, that will be transmitted to their bank accounts directly.

Secretary Labour CTM Suguna, Director NRHM Sri P.Meherda along with other senior officers and members participated in deliberations.

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Planning Commission to set 9% Growth Target

The Planning Commission of India may set a target of 9 per cent growth rate target for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17). And the target is likely to approved by the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh who is the Chairman of the Planning Commission.

The deputy chairman of the commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia told media on Friday that the Indian economy may grow between 8 per cent and 8.3 per cent in the current fiscal.

The approach paper set by the commission aimed to achieve the 9 per cent growth rate during the 12th Five Year Plan from the 8.2 per cent estimated in the 11th Five Yea Plan.

Ahluwalia projected that having potential to achieve the growth rate of 9 per cent, India could be third largest economy in the world after US and China.

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