Narendra Modi to meet CMs tomorrow to discuss structure of new Plan panel

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Chief Ministers on Sunday to discuss the structure, scope and role of the new body that will replace Planning Commission in the changed economic scenario under the new government.

"The Prime Minister will seek the views of Chief Ministers on the shape and functions of the body which would replace the Planning Commission," said an official source.

According to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley: "Empowering the states has been one of our critical beliefs. I do hope that after tomorrow's meeting, whatever decision will be taken, probably states will be in better position."

As per the agenda, Planning Secretary Sindhushree Khullar will make a presentation on the functions and contours of the new institution, which will ultimately replace the Plan panel.

After the presentation, the Chief Ministers would be asked to give their views on the different points highlighted in the concept note prepared after consultations with various stakeholders like experts, former members and senior officials of the Commission and others.

The new institution may have 8 to 10 regular or executive members with half of them representing the states. The remaining members could be sectoral experts such as environmentalists, financial experts, engineers, scientists and other eminent scholars form different fields.

The new body may be headed by the Prime Minister as the chairman position would be ex-officio.

It is suggested that the new institution would have functions including monitoring and evaluation; programme project and scheme evaluation; cross-sectoral and inter-ministerial expertise and appraisal and monitoring of projects.

The Commission has not been reconstituted since May, when all its members resigned after the new government came to power following the general elections.

It is has been suggested that the new body would advice the Prime Minister on matters referred to it. Besides, it should act as think tank and have network with universities and other institutions.

The new body could provide internal consultancy services to states and the Centre on different matters. It could also be used to design medium and long-term strategy.

A senior official said the government could finalise the shape of new intuition after seeking the views of the Chief Ministers on Sunday.

The Prime Minister, in his Independence Day speech, had announced that the Commission, set up in 1950 at a time when government gave public sector the commanding heights of economy, would be abolished and replaced with a more relevant institution.

"We will very soon set up a new institution in place of Planning Commission...the internal situation of the country has changed, global environment has changed... We need an institution of creative thinking and for optimum utilisation of youth capability," Modi had said in his Independence Day address.

After the announcement, the Commission also held meetings with the experts to discuss the new structure of the new institution, which would ultimately replace it. Country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had set up the Planning Commission to steer the nation's economic destiny.

Set up by a Cabinet Resolution, the Commission had enjoyed immense power and prestige as it had always been headed by the Prime Minister. Its most important function was to fix targets for sectoral growth and allocate resources to achieve them.