PM Modi Invites Ideas to Shape the Institution replacing the Planning Commission

TIR,19 August 2014, New Delhi: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has invited new ideas and suggestions from the general public on Tuesday to help shape the new institution that is set to replace the Planning Commission.

An Open forum has been set up by the Prime Minister’s Office to collect ideas from the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken to Twitter to send out an open invitation to the citizens, seeking their suggestions. Take a look: https://storify.com/indianrepublic/pm-modi-planningcommission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had announced the wrapping up of the Planning Commission, while delivering his Independence Day speech. PM Modi had mentioned that the soviet-style Planning Commission is set to be scrapped soon.

Addressing the country from the Red Fort, Modi had said that the 64-year old Planning Commission, a vestige of socialist era, would be soon replaced with a new institution to address the current economic challenges and strengthen the federal structure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a new body with a new soul is what the country needs. PM Modi also emphasized on the fact that there is a need to think about giving a new shape to the Planning Commission.

“…Very soon this new institute will start working in place of Planning Commission,” PM Modi said.

As PM Modi announced the abolition of the Planning Commission, he said that the Planning Commission had originally set up to cater to the needs of earlier times and has participated in its own way in the development of the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the internal situation of the country has changed and so has the global environment. “Government is no longer the centre of economic development. Economy is much more broadbased now. State government is also a centre of development. I feel it is a good sign. If we have to take India forward, then states have to be taken forward,” Modi added.

Further justifying the fact that there is a need to replace the Planning Commission, PM Modi said that often it is necessary to repair a house.

“It costs a lot of money. But it does not give us satisfaction. Then we feel it is better to make a new house. We need an institution of creative thinking and for optimum utilisation of youth capability,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Planning Commission had been set up in March 1950 by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to promote a rapid rise in the standard of living of the people by efficient exploitation of the resources of the country, increasing production and offering opportunities to all for employment in the service of the community.