Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understanding of planning in the context of economic development in India.
2. Insight into the shift from centralized to decentralized multi-level planning.
3. Comprehension of specific development programmes like Drought-Prone Area Programme and Hill Area Development Programme.
4. Grasp of sustainable development and its challenges within regional contexts.

Planning, often thought of as an everyday activity, holds a critical role in the economic development of India. Economic planning, in contrast to traditional methods, involves structured processes aimed at achieving specific goals. Initially, after India’s independence, planning was centralized, but over time, the country adopted decentralized multi-level planning. This involved collaboration at various governmental levels—national, state, and district.

NITI Aayog and Multi-Level Planning

1. NITI Aayog was established on January 1, 2015, replacing the Planning Commission. The agency focuses on providing technical advice to central and state governments.
2. The primary objective is to involve states in the economic policy-making process.
3. NITI Aayog encourages decentralization in policy formulation and implementation, transitioning from a centralized model.
4. The commission supports strategic and long-term policies for sustainable development across states.

Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP)

Initiated in the Fourth Five Year Plan, the Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP) aimed to create employment in drought-prone regions and develop productive assets. Over time, the focus shifted from labor-intensive civil works to:

1. Irrigation projects and land development.
2. Emphasis on afforestation, grassland development, and rural infrastructure like electricity and roads.
3. The National Committee on Development of Backward Areas later recommended that the program include ecological restoration through integrated watershed development.
4. Major drought-prone areas include semi-arid and arid regions in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Western Madhya Pradesh, and other states.

Target Area Planning

Target area planning arose from the need to address regional imbalances in economic development. Certain resource-rich regions remained economically backward due to a lack of technology and investment. The Planning Commission introduced several schemes to mitigate these imbalances:

1. Command Area Development Programme for maximizing irrigation efficiency.
2. Desert Development Programme aimed at sustainable development in desert areas.
3. Hill Area Development Programme, which focuses on utilizing indigenous resources like horticulture in hilly regions.

Hill Area Development Programme (HADP)

Started in the Fifth Five Year Plan, the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) covered districts in Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand), Assam, and other regions. The primary goals were to develop horticulture, irrigation, and basic rural infrastructure suited to the ecological and topographical conditions. The committee recommended development efforts based on:

1. Specific topographical and ecological conditions of the hill areas.
2. Utilization of local resources to foster economic growth.
3. The hill regions continue to remain underdeveloped despite these efforts, needing a more integrated development approach.

Important Note: The focus on local resources and topographical adjustments ensures sustainable development in hill regions, but socio-economic challenges continue to persist.

Integrated Tribal Development Project: Bharmaur Region

The Bharmaur tribal area in Himachal Pradesh, inhabited by the Gaddi community, exemplifies a case of socio-economic backwardness due to geographical isolation. The Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) was initiated here under the Fifth Five Year Plan to:

1. Improve transport, communication, education, and healthcare facilities.
2. Increase literacy from a mere 1.88% in 1971 to 65% by 2011.
3. Encourage diversification into pulses and cash crops to enhance agricultural productivity.
4. Overcome traditional pastoral practices and encourage wage labor as an alternative income source.

Sustainable Development: Concepts and Challenges

Development is not merely about economic growth but involves multi-dimensional progress—social, economic, and environmental. Earlier, growth was synonymous with an increase in gross national product (GNP), but this left vast sections of society impoverished. By the 1980s, the concept expanded to include:

1. Equity and redistribution to address poverty and unequal resource distribution.
2. A broader focus on improving the quality of life, including education, health, and civil rights.
3. The Brundtland Report (1987) introduced the term sustainable development, emphasizing that development should meet present needs without compromising future generations.
4. Sustainable development stresses a balance between economic progress and ecological conservation.

Important Note: The concept of sustainable development is essential in guiding both present and future resource use. Proper strategies ensure the well-being of future generations.

Case Study: Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area

The Indira Gandhi Canal, formerly the Rajasthan Canal, has played a significant role in transforming the arid regions of Rajasthan. This canal has affected the ecology, agriculture, and society in both positive and negative ways.

1. The canal has made irrigation possible, allowing for the cultivation of crops in regions previously unfit for agriculture.
2. However, issues such as waterlogging and soil salinity have emerged, challenging the long-term sustainability of this development.
3. Ecological sustainability remains a key concern. Measures to promote sustainability include:

• Strict enforcement of water management policies.
• Encouraging low-water crops like citrus fruits.
• Reclamation of areas affected by waterlogging and salinity.

1. The development of agriculture must be accompanied by afforestation, pasture development, and economic diversification to ensure lasting benefits.

Measures for Sustainable Development in the Indira Gandhi Canal Area

1. Implementation of water management policies is essential to protect the ecology of the canal area.
2. Water-intensive crops should be avoided in favor of plantation crops like citrus fruits.
3. Watercourse lining, land development, and the warabandi system should be strictly enforced to reduce water losses.
4. Reclamation of areas affected by salinity and waterlogging is necessary.
5. The establishment of shelterbelt plantations and eco-development initiatives must be prioritized, especially in fragile environments.
6. Economic support should be provided to poor land allottees to help them cultivate their lands sustainably.
7. Long-term economic sustainability requires diversification beyond agriculture, creating functional linkages between villages, agro-service centers, and markets.

Important Note: Sustainable development requires a combination of economic diversification, ecological balance, and social stability to ensure long-term benefits in regions like the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area.

Table: Comparison of Targeted Area Programmes

MCQ: Which of the following is critical for achieving sustainable development in the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area?

a) Agricultural development
b) Eco-development
c) Transport development
d) Colonization of land
Answer: b) Eco-development