*Plan to Win* *- Sabina Martins*
We have just celebrated the 64th Independence Day with ritualistic glorification of the freedom struggle that gave us freedom from colonial rule, pronunciations of how far we have reached and lamentations of all the ills that we are ridden with from poverty, inequalities to corruption, peppered with promises for a new India. It is the promise for a better India that keeps the electorate hopeful when an opportunity comes their way, may be an agitation or an election. The planning process for the next five year plan 2012-2017 by the Planning Commission has begun. Deliberations are being held for the approach paper to the twelfth five year Plan. This time around, to make the process inclusive and participatory, the Planning Commission started a website, so that any citizen of India could give inputs. This was a definite positive step considering the fact that people have been denied this opportunity by their governments. We have not yet fully availed of the great opportunities that our democracy offers. One of them is planning. The Constitution of India guarantees participation of every citizen in the planning process through their local bodies whether it is the Panchayat or Municipal body. We can participate in the planning of the development and welfare of our state and determine our destinies. Planning Commission is holding meetings with several stake holders like dalits, tribals, people with disabilities, transgender, people in conflict areas, women, children, minorities etc. This has come about due to people’s struggles. Earlier the industry people had a major say in the planning commission just like the builders and architects have in the Regional plan2021. Last December, as I sat through the National level discussions on what should go as the gender component in the approach paper for the twelfth five year plan, I thought a similar process would be held in Goa by the Planning authorities to discuss the priorities of the State. No such process involving the people has started so far. Twelve challenges have been identified for the next five year plan. Enhancing the capacity for growth, Enhancing Skills and faster rate of generation of Employment, Managing the Environment, Market for Efficiency and Inclusions, Decentralization Empowerment and Information, Technology and Innovation, Securing the Energy Future of India, Accelerated Development and Transport Infrastructure, Rural Transformation and Sustained growth in Agriculture, Managing Urbanisation, Improved Access to quality education, Better preventive and Curative health care. The women’s organizations got together to deliberate. Planning commission members with their bureaucracy were present, making notes, while civil society members working among different marginalized sections of women as well as on varied issues impressed on the Commission the areas that need redress. The appraisal of the 11th five year plan was done to see how the centre and states had fared in implementing the gender specific themes. Detail inputs were given under each head ranging from PPP projects, land acquisition, agriculture and industry, micro financing, RTI, forest Act, tribal rights, gram panchayats, laws, schemes and facilities for education, health, employment. The response to the twelve challenges from a gender perspective was given. Four areas were zeroed in encompassing all the challenge areas. 1*.* Governance, Decision Making & Political Participation 2.* *Economic rights, environment, livelihood access to markets, technology and skill development** 3.* *Violence against Women 4.* *Essential Services (Education, Health, Water, Food Security, Child Care Services, Transportation and Infrastructure)** The report has been submitted to the Planning Commission. On April 21st 2011 the full Planning Commission met to deliberate on the approach paper to the twelfth five year plan. Inputs have been sought from all the states and stake holders.This will be finalised at the next meeting on 20th August 2011. Sector level committees have been formed. The National Development Council which is the highest decision making body in development matters will meet to deliberate on the national plan submitted by the Planning Commission. By the end of the year the 12th five year plan will be finalized. The state also has to prepare its five year plan based on the guidelines given by NDC. From 1st April 2011 the twelfth five year plan 2012-2017 gets operational. It is high time that the people of Goa demand a say in the planning process. The mass movement led by Goa Bachao Abhiyan made it possible for the first time for people to give inputs into the draft Regional Plan 2021, despite the government not making the requisite legal changes. The Final Regional Plan 2021 is yet to be out with all the policies and surface utilization plans. The government has dragged its feet for 4 years. If and when the promised RP2021 does come out it will be time to relook at it in view of the new thrust areas of the twelfth five year plan. And while the people of Goa are kept engaged in the surface utilization of village plans, the government is going ahead with their own plans like amphibian helicopters, marinas etc caring a damn for the planning process. There is no dialogue about the Tourism plan with the people. The end result will be agitation and more agitations against projects thrust on the people. *The time to intervene is now. Two important democratic processes are underway; preparation of the twelfth five year plan and preparation for the state elections. While the election bantering can be heard, there is hardly any discussion as to what should be in the plan for the people.* It is reliably learnt that all departments have been told to prepare a plan for their department, the shortcomings in implementing schemes as well as suggestions. The Agriculture department has hired an agency to make an assessment. Regional consultations have been held and the Goa government has given its inputs in the western region consultation. Are the people aware what recommendations have gone in? I am afraid not. We, in GBA are still trying to get information. For participatory planning, people have to be involved. The Planning Commission has given instructions to involve people in the planning process starting with the formulation of the approach paper. The officials in the Planning department stated that they will have deliberations with the NGOs and elected members once the Draft approach paper comes from the Centre. A similar promise of participatory planning was earlier made by the Department of Planning, Statistics,Evaluation and Directorate of Panchayats to draw up the Annual Plan. Representatives from the departments, elected zilla and panchayat members, NGO representatives were sent for training. Despite several reminders to the officials of the departments, the State Annual plan was not made by involving the people. Rs 3320 crore plan outlay has been made for Goa for the financial year 2011-2012 out of which 500 core has been allocated for making pollution free mining area The people of Goa have to make their own State Plan 2012-217. We have to demand the participatory process to make state plans. Kerala has shown the way. The preparation of the Regional plan 2021 provided some experience to the people of Goa to plan for their villages. WE have to decide what development we want and chart our way in Education, Health, Energy, Employment, Environment, Industry etc. The State Plan includes budgetary allocation based on the local and central resources available. Every year Annual plans are made based on the State plan and funds released from the Centre. This money is allocated scheme wise to various departments as well as to local bodies like panchayats and municipalities for carrying out the works. If vigilance is maintained on the implementation of the schemes and expenditure incurred, corruption will decline and progress made. The mid term appraisal of the 11th five year plan done by Goa Institute of Management and the report of the second Finance Commission prepared by late Alban Couto is yet to be tabled in the Assembly. This is the ideal time to make our Plan. Elections are round the corner. People have to set the agenda for the state first. Who should be elected to implement the plan comes next. Whichever government comes to power, it has to be held accountable to implement the Plan. We have to Plan to Win. ( appeared in Goa Doot on 27th Aug,2011)
