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No communal budgeting in 11th Plan : PM

	December 24, 2007

The National Development Council, the highest policy formulating body of the Government, endorsed the 11th Five Year Plan on Wednesday, Dec. 19, after day-long deliberations. The Plan to run from 2007-2012 envisages an economic growth rate of 10 per cent.



Before the endorsement, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected charges evelled by BJP-ruled states that the Plan focus was on the minorities and it provided for communal budgeting. He said there is no attempt to divide people on the basis of caste and religion and the focus remained on the most marginalised sections of society.



“The goal of this Plan is to invest in our people to enable them to become active participants in economic growth processes. The Plan does not attempt

to divide people on the basis of caste, creed or gender or religion,” he said.



Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had alleged that the Centre had resorted to “communal budgeting” and demanded that there be a review of

the Prime Minister’s 15-point agenda for minorities. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan had criticised it likewise. Dr Singh clarified

that it was true there were certain social groups who were relatively badly placed on development indicators. The Plan does pay special attention to the

needs of these marginalised groups and targets them in a precise manner.



“Inclusiveness does mean better targeting and it is not at the cost of other groups. You will all agree that if we hope to have a prosperous, equitable, just

India, we must cover all groups and ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.



Modi said that the criteria for flow of funds should be based on socio-economic criteria and discrimination for flow of funds based on minority

status would not help. He said implementation of such schemes should be left to the states.



BJP president Rajnath Singh had directed BJP CMs to oppose any “overt or covert” move by the UPA to incorporate communal budgeting in general and in

the 11th Plan in particular.



Later, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said the allocation of funds for the minorities in the 11th Plan was part of the

government’s commitment towards inclusive and equitable growth. “It is an unfortunate reality that our society is socially fragmented and the minorities along

with other groups have not benefited adequately from

many of our development schemes,” he said while

reacting to Modi’s criticism.



The BJP’s NDA counterparts maintained silence

over the issue, demonstrating the alliance was not

united on the issue.



Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, instead of

protesting the”communalisation of the budget”, chose

to air his grievances against Central ministers usurping

the powers of the state government and violating the

federal structure of India.



Biju Janata Dal leader and Orissa Chief Minister

Naveen Patnaik, who is also a part of the NDA, endorsed the 11th Plan document without mentioning

a single word on the funds earmarked for Muslims or

even “communal budgeting.”



Instead, Patnaik asked for better royalties for

mineral-rich states, increase in central assistance to

states, and a rebate for the Kalahandi-Bolangir-

Koraput (KBK) districts when it came to central excise

to encourage industries to be set up in the area.



Facing flak over the Nandigram episode, West

Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said

a fresh look should be taken by the Centre at its special

economic zones policy, which should be restricted to

select industries. He also wanted a land ceiling on

different types of SEZs.



Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal

demanded a special package to help farmers.



Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati did not

attend the NDC meeting. An address read on her

behalf called for increase in irrigation facilities and

steps to end what she called “inadequate supply of

fertilisers.”



Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam

Nabi Azad criticised the Centre’s policies on

employment and called for modifying the funding

pattern of centrally-sponsored schemes.



Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the state

would like to develop industry without compromising

on the environment to prevent migration from the

rural areas.