lannin in ndia 5.21
(iii) In 1980, there was again a change of programme (the TPP) was tested and tried by the
government at the Centre with the return same government in the Fifth Plan which tried to
of the Congress which abandoned the improve the standard of living of the poor masses
Sixth Plan of the Janata Government in with the ‘direct approach’ (the idea of poverty
the year 1980 itself. alleviation, but such a slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’
(iv) The new government launched a fresh was not given to the programme).
new Sixth Plan for the period 1980–85. Some of the major issues addressed by
But by that time, two financial years of the Plan were—emphasis on socio-economic
the Janata Government’s Sixth Plan had infrastructure in rural areas; eliminating rural
already been completed. These two years
poverty and reducing regional disparities through
of the Plan were adjusted by the Congress
Government in a highly interesting way: the IRDP (1979); ‘target group’73 approach
initiated; a number of national level programmes
(a) The first year, i.e., 1978–79 was added
and schemes were launched during the plan,
to the fifth plan which was cut-short
by the Janata Government to four which tried to attend to the specific areas and the
years. And thus the Fifth Plan officially specific concerns of socio-economic development
became of 5 years again (1974–79). (this is the ‘target group’ approach):74
(b) Now what to do with the second (i) National Rural Employment Programme
year, i.e., 1979–80. The Congress (NREP)—1980
Government announced this year (ii) Restructured Twenty-Point Programme–
to be a year of one Annual Plan. 1982
This Annual Plan (1979–80) may
(iii) Biogas Programme—1982
be considered the lone independent
remnant of the ‘Rolling Plan’ of the (iv) Development of Women and Children
Janata Government. in Rural Areas (DWERA)—1983
The Sixth Plan (1978–83) which could not (v) Rural Landless Employment Guarantee
become an official plan of India had emphasis on Programme (RLEGP)—1983
some of the highly new economic ideas and ideals (vi) Self-Employment to Educated
with almost a complete no to foreign investment; Unemployed Youth Programme
new thrust on price control; rejuvenation of the (SEEUP)—1983
Public Distribution System (PDS); emphasis on
(vii) Dairy Development Programme
small-scale and cottage industries; new lease of life
to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) (i.e., the 2nd (DDP)—1983
Phase of the revival of the PRIs); agriculture and (viii) Village and Small Industries Development
the subject of rural development getting the due; Programme (VSIDP)—1983
etc., being the major ones. (ix) Tribal Development Agency (TDA)—
1983
Sixth Plan
(x) Village and Small Industries Development
This Plan (1980–85) was launched with the slogan Programme (VSIDP)—1983
of ‘Garibi Hatao’ (alleviate poverty).72 Already, a
73. ‘Target group’ approach of planning is selecting the
72. Some experts see this Plan as a symbol of the planning group of people where a particular problem is and
being converted to a complete politics—with utter attac ing the pro lem directly. he was the first
populism entering into the planning process of India. such programme in India.
The circle of the politicisation of planning gets 74. Publications Division, India 1980–1983 (New Delhi:
completed with this Plan. Government of India).