Failures of planned development

♤ Economic Inequality and Social Injustice: Even after 7 decades of independence, more than 22% of population lives below poverty line. The figure is dismal even after the benchmark for poverty is kept very low. While India also has 3rd largest population of billionaire. The inequality has never been so stark.

♤ Unemployment: India has witnessed the

phenomena of ‘Jobless growth’. Even after years

of being tagged as fastest growing economy, the rate of job creation is merely 2%.

♤ Slow growth in production sector: Priority should have been given to the development of agriculture in all the plans, but it was not done. Capital intensive industries in urban areas were given precedence over small scale industries in the rural areas.

♤ Inefficient administration: According to an UN report, one of the short comings of plan years has been the laggard implementation. Plans were formulated after good deal of discussion and deliberation but their targets are not achieved due to inefficient administration, dishonesty, vested interest and red tapism.

♤ No mechanism of feedback, monitoring and evaluation: All the plans were formulated by a single body (Planning Commission) without much field studies to analyze effectiveness of preceding plans. Also there was certain high-handedness in policy formulation with little consultations with stakeholders like state governments.

♤ Standard of Living: The per capita income has not increased, while inflation has paralyzed the life of middle and lower class. Urban space has witnessed proliferation of slums with issues of sanitation, crime against women and child.