Centre renames Planning Commission as ‘Neeti Ayog’

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
New Delhi, Jan 1:

The Centre today renamed the Planning Commission as ‘Neeti Ayog’.

It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently called meeting of all chief ministers recently to deliberate on the structure of the new body which would replace the Commission.

The majority view that emerged after the meeting was in favour of decentralisation of power.

However, the Congress-ruled states had reservations about dismantling an institution which was set up by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and they suggested restructuring of the existing body, rather than a complete replacement.

“Our government stands by the principle of cooperative federalism, empowering states, least number of central schemes and more state schemes,” Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley said while replying to a debate on this issue in the Lok Sabha.

The Planning Commission, set up by a simple government resolution in March 1950, has commissioned 12 five-year plans and six annual plans involving fund outlays of over Rs 200 lakh crore in its 65-year-history.

It was set up initially as part of the government’s declared objectives to promote a rapid rise in the standard of living of the people by efficient exploitation of resources, increasing production and offering employment opportunities.

The Commission was charged with the responsibility of assessing all resources of the country, augmenting deficient resources, formulating plans for the most effective and balanced utilisation of resources and determining priorities.