The word ‘planning’ is not new to you as it is

PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIAN CONTEXT

Planning is a familiar term in everyday life, often used in contexts such as preparing for exams or trips. It involves a systematic process of thinking, formulating schemes or programs, and implementing actions to achieve specific goals. In the context of this chapter, planning refers specifically to economic development, distinguishing it from traditional hit-and-miss methods of reform and reconstruction. After India’s independence, the country adopted centralized planning with the Planning Commission responsible for formulating plans at the central, state, and district levels. However, on 1 January 2015, the Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog, which aims to involve states more actively in economic policymaking and provide strategic and technical advice to both central and state governments. Planning in economic development typically follows two approaches: sectoral planning and regional planning. Sectoral planning focuses on the development of various economic sectors such as agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, power, transport, communication, and social infrastructure. Regional planning, on the other hand, addresses spatial disparities in development, recognizing that some areas are more developed while others lag behind. It aims to reduce regional imbalances by adopting a spatial perspective in planning. This chapter explores these facets of planning and their role in sustainable development in India.

• Planning involves systematic thinking, formulation, and implementation to achieve goals.
• Post-independence India adopted centralized planning via the Planning Commission.
• NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015 to promote cooperative federalism.
• Sectoral planning targets development of specific economic sectors.
• Regional planning addresses uneven economic development across different areas.
• Planning aims to reduce regional imbalances and promote equitable growth.
• 📌 Planning: Process of preparing and implementing schemes to achieve goals.
• 📌 Sectoral Planning: Planning focused on economic sectors like agriculture, power, transport.
• 📌 Regional Planning: Planning aimed at reducing spatial disparities in development.

Target Area Planning

Target Area Planning is a specialized approach within regional planning that focuses on economically backward areas requiring special attention. Economic development depends on resource availability, technology, and investment. However, some resource-rich regions remain underdeveloped due to lack of technology and investment. Experience from about fifteen years of planning revealed that regional imbalances were worsening, prompting the Planning Commission to introduce target area and target group approaches. Target area programmes focus on specific regions such as drought-prone areas, desert areas, hill areas, and tribal regions. Examples include the Command Area Development Programme, Drought Prone Area Development Programme, Desert Development Programme, and Hill Area Development Programme. Target group programmes like the Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA) and Marginal Farmers Development Agency (MFDA) focus on specific social groups. The 8th Five Year Plan emphasized infrastructure development in hill areas, northeastern states, tribal areas, and other backward regions. These programmes are tailored to the unique ecological, social, and economic conditions of the target areas to promote balanced regional development and reduce disparities.

• Target Area Planning addresses development of economically backward regions.
• Economic development requires resources, technology, and investment.
• Planning Commission introduced target area and target group approaches.
• Examples include programmes for drought-prone, desert, hill, and tribal areas.
• 8th Five Year Plan focused on infrastructure in backward and tribal regions.
• Programmes are designed considering ecological and socio-economic conditions.
• 📌 Target Area Planning: Planning focused on specific backward regions.
• 📌 Target Group Programme: Schemes aimed at particular social groups like small farmers.
• 📌 Command Area Development Programme: Irrigation improvement in command areas.