Prime Minister Narendra Modi met all the Chief Ministers in Delhi today.
The need for a relook at the Planning Commission has been raised since 1992. It was also the wish of his predecessor Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today at his meeting with chief ministers to arrive at a consensus about the new body that is to replace the Planning Commission.
The first introspection regarding the plan panel was done after the launch of economic reforms in 1992. In 2012, the Parliamentary Consultative Committee had stressed on the need for a new body to replace it, PM Modi said. Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had also stressed on the need for a relook towards the end of his term, the Prime Minister added.
PM Modi is holding two meetings today - one with all chief ministers and another with his aides - for a consensus on the name, structure and mandate of the new body.
In his speech on the Independence Day, the Prime Minister had indicated that the 64-year-old Commission had run its course. The government is considering a stronger institution that would be a combination of three-four divisions or departments. Each department or division may be headed by a secretary.
The divisions may include the inter-state council, the planning division, the evaluation division, the Unique Identification Authority of India and the Direct Benefit Transfer department.
Tamil Nadu became one of the first states to welcome the initiative.
"The Planning Commission's approach has been arrogant and condescending. Its process of consultation, particularly with the states, has been weak and nothing came of the meetings," said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
In her presentation today, Planning Secretary Sindhushree Khullar suggested that the replacement body comprise sectoral experts and states' representatives. The new institution may have 8-10 regulars with half of them representing the states.
The rest could be experts from various sectors - environmentalists, financial experts, engineers, scientists and eminent scholars. The new panel could be headed by the Prime Minister.
Besides the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers, the meeting was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Jammu and Kashmir counterpart Omar Abdullah have skipped the meet.