Niti Aayog races against time to give shape to Plan paper

While the government plans to shift to a 15-year Plan period from April 1, 2017 onwards, the Niti Aayog — which has been mandated with preparing the vision document for outlining the way forward for the new system — is literally racing against time to do so as it has to prepare the roadmap by December 31, 2016. The heat is being felt within the echelons of power as the government think tank is left with too little time to meet the ambitious deadline.

Considering the fact that the Five-Year Plan period, a legacy of 60 years, is to be replaced by a completely new system, the government think tank began working on the vision document only in May this year and it is being felt that the deadline may turn out to be too challenging in the end. Though Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya has expressed confidence that the vision document would be in place by December 2016.

The 15-year vision document is to be formulated with the objective of eradicating poverty and will remain applicable till 2030. It will come into effect from April 1, 2016, a day after the ongoing 12th Five-Year Plan period comes to an end.

Moreover, the Niti Aayog has been asked to come up with a preliminary vision document by September 15, i.e. by Thursday. This, sources aware of the details told this newspaper, will hopefully help in easing some burden off the policymakers, and may help in giving a clear picture on how to go ahead with the preparation of the actual vision document.

Sources privy to the development said that at least 18 months are required to undertake such an exercise, considering how exhaustive the roadmap would have to be.

Compared to the Five-Year Plan period era, when deliberations for the new period would start at least two years in advance, preparations for the 15-year vision document began only a few months back.

During the mid-term appraisal of a Five-Year Plan, which also entailed preparations for the next Plan period, a mini-secretariat used to be set up by the government, which was assisted by various sub-committees catering to all the central ministries. These would brainstorm about various aspects of planning for the remaining period as well as for the new five-year period. All this took more than two years time, sources said.

For the 15-year vision document, the government has provided Niti Aayog with three experts, who have been deliberating with the think tank officials for preparing the roadmap.

Moreover considering the fact that the vision document itself consists of various timelines, timely completion of the entire exercise required greater planning in advance, sources close to the developments said.

The 15-year vision documents consists of a seven-year National Development Agenda that will be in place till 2023-24.