lannin in ndia 5.9
and other provisions, the Constitution and a socio-economic order based on
vests power in the Union to ensure co- justice and equality. Thus, the basic
ordinated development in essential objectives33 of planning were already given
fields of activity, while preserving the in the provisions of the Constitution of
initiative and authority of the states in India. These were emphatically stated in
the spheres allotted to them. the First Five Year Plan (1951–56) itself,
(b) The Constitution includes provisions in the following words:
for promoting cooperation on a “The urge to economic and social
voluntary basis between the Union change under present conditions comes
and the states and among states and from the facts of poverty and of inequalities
groups of states in investigation in income, wealth and opportunity. The
of matters of common interest, elimination of poverty cannot obviously,
in legislative procedures and in be achieved merely by redistributing
administration, thus avoiding existing wealth. Nor can a programme
the rigidities inherent in federal aiming only at raising production remove
constitutions (Articles 249, 252, existing inequalities. These two have to be
257, 258, 258-A, and 312). In other considered together....”
words, the objective is cooperative (iv) The above objectives of planning were
federalism. time and again emphasised in one form
(c) The Constitution also sets out in broad or the other in the coming times. As the
outline the pattern of the welfare Second Five Year Plan (1956–61) said:
state envisaged and the fundamental “The Plan has to carry forward the
principles on which it should rest. process initiated in the First Plan period.
These are the major cornerstones of It must provide for a larger increase
planning and its objectives enshrined in in production, in investment and in
the Constitution that will breed enough employment. Simultaneously, it must
Union–State tussle in coming decades and accelerate the institutional changes
make it compulsive for the government needed to make the economy more
to resort to ‘reforms with a human face’ dynamic and more progressive in terms
rhetoric. We can see the methodology of no less of social than of economic ends.”
planning taking a U-turn in the era of the (v) The same objectives were repeated by the
economic reforms since the early 1990s. Sixth Five Year Plan (1980–85) in the
(iii) The government resolution announcing following words:
the setting up of the Planning “The basic task of economic planning
Commission (March 1950) started with a
in India is to bring about a structural
reference to the constitutional provisions
transformation of the economy so as
bearing on the socio-economic objectives
to achieve a high and sustained rate
of the Constitution. The Fundamental
of growth, a progressive improvement
Rights and the Directive Principles of
in the standard of living of the masses
the Constitution assure every citizen,
leading to eradication of poverty and
among other things, adequate means of
livelihood, opportunities for employment 33. Ibid.