The current five year plan is from 2007-2012. The next five year plan (12th plan) will be from 2012-2017. From now until until 2013 various details of the 12th plan will be put in place. we need to watch out the discussions and news reports on this and make sure that Odisha gets its due share. Following are excerpts from an Hindu news report on an initial meeting about the 12th plan.

The Planning Commission, Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, on Saturday held a meeting with experts from various fields on the approach for the 12th five year plan.

“The meeting was for consultation with experts for the ‘Approach’ for the 12th Plan. We discussed broad issues today.

… On the issue of growth, the Deputy Chairman said, “The Prime Minister has asked us that we should aim for 10 per cent growth in the next Plan.

“Everybody feels and we also think that growth should be inclusive and sustainable. That means without environmental damage.”

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Mr Nandan Nilekani, the former Nasscom President, Mr Kiran Karnik, and the former Thermax Chairperson, Ms Anu Aga, among others, apart from officials of the Planning Commission.

We should not be only reactive, rather we should be proactive in pushing issues that will help Odisha. Following are some initial thoughts.

  • Odisha should push that India’s Maoist/Tribal/forested belt that includes a large part of Odisha and adjoining states of Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal should have investment amounts and priority (with respect to infrastructure development) similar to what is accorded to the North Eastern states and J & K. This would entail expediting planned Rail connectivity in these areas;
  • Work in Progress