By IANS,
Bangalore: The Planning Commission will hold discussions with the five southern states June 10-11 here on issues to be included in the approach paper on the 12th Five Year Plan, 2012-17.
“The plan panel has identified 12 key developmental challenges faced by the country to be reflected in the approach paper for the 12th plan covering systemic issues and sectoral needs,” Karnataka Planning Minister V.S. Acharya told reporters here Wednesday.
Planning commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will first hold consultations with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu June 10 to build a consensus on the key parameters to be addressed in the approach paper.
“The regional consultation will elicit views and opinions of the southern state governments and other stakeholders on the various topics, including social justice and gender issues,” Acharya said.
For the first time, the plan panel is also involving civil society groups, non-government organisations, urban and rural local bodies, trade unions, regional and state-level business associations and academicians in the consultations.
“Discussions with NGOs and civil society organisations from the southern states will be held June 11. Academicians, business associations and trade unions will also be heard by the panel members,” Acharya added.
Besides chief ministers, planning ministers and top officials of the five southern states will participate in the two-day deliberations.
As part of the nationwide consensus building exercise, the plan panel meeting in Bangalore is the third of its kind being held after similar consultations in New Delhi and Patna for the northern and eastern states early this year.
The fourth round will be held in Mumbai later this year.