Flaws in 5 Year Plan picked out
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 03 2012:
The 13th five-year plan of the Government has failed to reflect and include the needs of the public, said N Paul Divakar, Convenor of Wada Na Todo Abhiyan.
Paul Divakar was speaking at a one-day conference on civil society participation in the 12th Five-Year Plan jointly organised by Human Rights Alert and the Economics Department, Manipur University at the Royal Conference Hall of Classic Hotel today.
Speaking as the chief guest of the function, rights activist Paul Divakar noted that the rights to life, rights to development, rights to live with dignity, and rights to respectable living should be integrated in the 5 year plans.
Pointing out that the monthly amount of assistance for pre-matric sholarship is just Rs 10, Divakar wondered if the amount is of any assistance to the students.
He said, the dignity of the students is put at stake.
Stating that India is also a signatory member of the Millenium Development Goal, Divakar maintained that people should be sensitised on planning matters in order to achieve the development goals.
It should also consider all sections of the society including women, children and the underprivileged while formulating the plans.
He said that the civil society organisations should be consulted and enlightened in formulating the plans so that the plans are implemented effectively.
The conference was attended by Prof Amar Yumnam, Dean, School of Social Science, MU and RK Noyonsana, Chairperson of Manipur State Social Welfare Board as the president and guest of honour respectively.
Prof Amar Yumnam pointed out that the flagship programmes of the Government have failed to benefit the targetted beneficiaries.
He said, development schemes have failed due to negligence of the rights of the people while formulating them.
In order to incorporate the needs of the people and for effective implementation of any scheme, civil society organisations should be consulted.
Prof Amar also stressed on the need to prepare the citizens to be involved meaningfully in the globalisation process by reckoning the rights of the people while drafting a plan.
Resource persons in the technical session included Special Secretary (Planning), Dr Sajjad Hussam who spoke on understanding planning process in Manipur; HoD, Economics, MU Dr Elangbam Bijoykumar and Dr Ksh Jhaljit.