Eleventh Five Years Plan

The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) which was approved by the National Development Council on 19 December, 2007 provides a comprehensive strategy for inclusive development, building on the growing strength of the economy, while also addressing weaknesses that have surfaced. It sets a target for 9 per cent growth in the five year period with acceleration during the period to read 10 per cent by the end of the plan. It also covers 26 other major indices of performance relating to poverty, health education, women and children, infastructure, and environment and sets monitorable targets in each of these.

This plan outlines the new priorities for the public sector. These relate to reviving dynamism in agriculture and building the necessary supportive infrastructure in rural areas, expanding access to health and education, especially in rural areas, undertaking programmes for improving living conditions for the weaker section and for improving their access to economic opportunity. It also includes a major thrust for infrastructure development in general, which is a critical constraint on our development.

The plan adopts multi-pronged approach towards improvement in Agriculture. It provides a major expansion in the programmes of irrigation and water management. As a step towards food security, the National Food Security Mission aims at increasing cereal and pulses production by 20 million tons over a five year period.

There is a massive thrust in this Plan on access to education and health. In education the Plan will spend more than double of what was spent in the tenth plan. In health, the Plan aims at providing improved broad based health care in rural areas through the National Rural Health Mission. The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana will provide the much needed insurance cover against illness to the population below the poverty line.

The Plan emphasized the need for energy conservation, increasing energy efficiency, and development of renewable sources of energy.

An important aspect of the Eleventh Plan is that most of the public sector programmes are in the areas that are normally in the domain of the State Governments and where implementation depends upon the active involvement of local level bodies including the Panchayati Raj Institutions. More than any other Plan, this Plan places a much greater reliance upon the involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions.