Planning and Sustainable development in Indian context

 Planning – 

Planning is the process of deciding in advance what should be done, how it should be done, and how resources should be used to achieve development goals.

Sustainable Development – 

Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Development + Environmental protection + Future generations

In Indian context - who creates planning 

NITI Aayog – 


NITI Aayog → National Institution for Transforming India

 Established

Established on 1 January 2015.

Replaced the Planning Commission.

Main Objective

To promote sustainable and inclusive development.

To involve States in economic policy-making.

To provide strategic and technical advice to Central and State Governments.


Major Functions

•Policy formulation and strategic planning.

•Promotes cooperative federalism between Centre and States.

•Encourages competitive federalism among States.

•Monitors and evaluates development programmes.

•Promotes innovation and entrepreneurship.

•Provides technical and policy support to governments.


 Important Feature

•NITI Aayog = Think Tank of the Government of India

•Difference from Planning Commission

Planning Commission → Centralised planning

•NITI Aayog → Cooperative & participatory planning


Structure

•Chairperson:

 Prime Minister of India

•Governing Council:

 Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors/Administrators of Union Territories

•Vice-Chairperson: 

Appointed by the Prime Minister

Also includes full-time members and ex-officio members.



 Approaches to Planning

Planning → Two main approaches:

  1. Sectoral Planning

    • Focuses on the development of specific sectors of the economy.
    • Includes:
      • Agriculture
      • Irrigation
      • Manufacturing
      • Power
      • Construction
      • Transport & Communication
      • Social infrastructure & services
  2. Regional Planning

    • Economic development is not uniform across space.
    • Some regions are more developed, while others lag behind.
    • Aims to reduce regional imbalances in development.
    • Gives importance to the spatial perspective while preparing plans.


Sectoral PlanningDevelopment of different sectors
Regional PlanningReduction of regional disparitiesd


Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. How many main approaches to planning are mentioned in the passage?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Answer: B. Two

2. Which type of planning focuses on the development of different sectors of the economy?
A. Regional planning
B. Urban planning
C. Sectoral planning
D. Rural planning
Answer: C. Sectoral planning

3. Which of the following is an example of sectoral planning?
A. Agriculture
B. Regional balance
C. Spatial perspective
D. Regional disparity
Answer: A. Agriculture 

4. What is the main objective of regional planning?
A. Increase only industrial production
B. Develop only agriculture
C. Reduce regional imbalances in development
D. Increase population
Answer: C. Reduce regional imbalances in development

Target Area Planning

Focuses on economically backward areas.

Development depends on resources, technology, and investment.

Introduced to reduce regional and social disparities.

Uses target area and target group approaches.

Important programmes include:

Command Area Development Programme

Drought Prone Area Development Programme

Desert Development Programme

Hill Area Development Programme

SFDA and MFDA programmes

The 8th Five Year Plan emphasized infrastructure development in hill, tribal, backward, and northern states.

Q. In India, Which Five Year Plan is currently going on ?

•The 12th Five Year Plan (2012–2017) was the last one.
•After 2017, the Five Year Plan system was discontinued and planning is guided through NITI Aayog and other long-term strategies.
•The First Five-Year Plan started in 1951.


Hill Area Development Programme




Hill Areas Covered under HADP

•Hilly districts of Uttar Pradesh (present Uttarakhand)

•Mikir Hills of Assam

•North Cachar Hills of Assam

•Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal

•Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu

HADP was initiated during the Fifth Five-Year Plan.(1974–1979)

It covered 15 districts in the hilly regions.

Aim- overall development of backward hill areas.

Development plans were prepared according to the topographical, ecological, social and economic conditions of each hill area.

Major emphasis was given to:

•Agriculture and horticulture
•Development of indigenous resources
•Infrastructure development
•Ecological balance and sustainable development

Q. Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) 


 Introduction

The Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) was initiated during the Fourth Five-Year Plan.

It was started for the development of areas frequently affected by drought.

Main Objectives

To provide employment opportunities to people living in drought-prone areas.

To create productive assets.

To reduce the adverse effects of drought and improve rural livelihoods.

Initial Focus

Initially, the programme emphasized:

Construction of labour-intensive civil works.

Later Development Strategy

Later, the programme gave importance to:

Irrigation projects,
Land development,
Afforestation
Grassland development

Development of basic rural infrastructure, such as:

Electricity

Roads

Markets

Credit facilities

Other essential services

Ecological Approach

The programme focuses on the restoration of ecological balance.

Increasing population pressure causes the use of marginal lands for agriculture, leading to ecological degradation.

Therefore, alternative employment opportunities are needed in drought-prone areas.

Important Development Strategy

Adoption of an integrated watershed development approach at the micro-level.

Restoration of balance between:

Soil

Plants

Human population

Animal population


Identification of Drought-Prone Areas

The Planning Commission (1967) identified 67 districts, wholly or partly, as drought-prone.

The Irrigation Commission (1972) used 30% irrigated area as a criterion for identifying drought-prone areas.

Major Drought-Prone Regions

Drought-prone areas are broadly found in:

Semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan

Gujarat

Western Madhya Pradesh

Marathwada region of Maharashtra

Rayalaseema and Telangana plateau of Andhra Pradesh

Karnataka plateau and highlands

Interior parts of Tamil Nadu


Areas Relatively Protected

Parts of Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan are relatively protected from drought due to the spread of irrigation.

Conclusion

DPAP aims at reducing drought vulnerability through employment generation, land and water development, infrastructure, ecological restoration, and watershed management.



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