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A WAY TO ALIGN PLANNING WITH POLITICAL MANDATE

Relevance:

GS 3

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.

Why in News:

The concept and methodology of planning have become controversial in recent times.

Source- The New Indian Express

In recent years, the relevance and methodology of planning in governance have been debated. Divergent perspectives among planning, finance, and implementing government sectors lead to ad hoc new schemes, affecting economic growth and development.

Planning Process and Political Governance

• Alignment Need: The planning process should align with the government’s political mandate, reflecting the programs people voted for.
• ‘Working Backwards’ Approach: Planning should aim to complete or sustain programs by the end of a government’s term, using a reverse planning method.

Challenges in Current Planning Framework

• Ad hoc Scheme Development: There is a growing trend of introducing schemes that are ad hoc in nature. This approach leads to inefficient resource allocation and strains the economy and growth prospects.
• Conflicting Perspectives: The planning, funding, and implementing arms of the government often operate with divergent priorities and objectives. This lack of alignment hinders cohesive and effective planning.
• Insufficient Detail and Justification: Many project proposals are prepared without in-depth analysis and adequate justification. This results in a lack of clarity and potentially ineffective implementation of projects.
• Compartmentalized Process: Planning and implementation at both the Central and State levels tend to be compartmentalized, with minimal communication and coordination among different government wings, leading to inefficiencies.
• Inadequate Focus on Intangible Aspects: Traditional planning has primarily focused on tangible assets such as infrastructure. However, intangible issues like environmental sustainability, social empowerment, and quality of life improvements have not been adequately addressed in the planning processes.

Enhancing Planning Efficiency

• Empowering Planning Officers: Departmental Planning Officers should have a significant role in decision-making and audits.
• Convergence Approach: Encourages collaboration among all relevant government components for effective program implementation.
• Technology Utilization: Using data analytics and AI for accurate program formulation and implementation at micro levels.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Encouraging PPPs in planning and implementation to leverage the efficiency, innovation, and resources of the private sector.
• Decentralized Decision-Making: Empowering local authorities and regional bodies in the planning process to ensure decisions are more context-specific, responsive, and tailored to local needs.

Transition from Tangible to Intangible Focus in Planning

• Historical Focus: Earlier planning focused on tangible assets like infrastructure.
• Current Needs: Now, there’s a shift towards addressing intangible issues like climate change and nutrition, driven by public demand.

Innovative Planning Tools

• Contingency Planning (CP): Essential for managing unforeseen events and cost overruns.
• Outcome Budgeting (OB): Tracks how electoral commitments impact citizenry, becoming increasingly popular in Indian states.
• Comprehensive Approach: Planning must include CP, OB, and continuous evaluation for effectiveness.
• Performance Tracking Dashboards: Utilizing digital dashboards that track the performance and progress of various initiatives in real-time, allowing for more responsive and dynamic planning.
• Public Participation Platforms: Implementing digital platforms that facilitate public input and feedback in the planning process.

For planning to be an effective governance tool, it must be fully integrated into the governance process, focusing on achieving mandated outcomes efficiently and transparently.

Source

IE

Mains Question

Q “Discuss the evolving role of planning in governance. Examine the challenges faced in aligning planning with political mandates and suggest measures for enhancing the efficiency and relevance of planning in contemporary governance. Illustrate your answer with examples.”