ASPECTS OF PLANNING (1974,1977)

Planning is an invaluable aid to policy. This monograph- is the result of the experience of the author in plan formulation and evaluation- presents the various concepts of planning. In the context of achieving " Growth with Social Justice " in India, there is need for a switch over from the traditional production-oriented methods. This distinction is well analysed. The method of formulating consumptionoriented plan and the need, problems and methods of perspective planning are discussed

The Indian Plans have been acclaimed by well known economists as one of the best in the World. Yet, there are errors in implementation. Lack of administrative coordination is a pitfall. What do we mean by administrative co-ordination? How is it achieved? These and several other questions are discussed with practical examples. A separate chapter on “The implementation of Plans” has been included.

The ex-post, ex-ante and concurrent evaluation will have to be taken up at appropriate stages which will highlight the pitfalls in implementation and suggest correctives. The need concept scope and characteristics of evaluation in planning discussed before the methods of evaluation are indicated. The role of evaluation in the context of Fifth Plan is discussed.

There is a growing awareness in developing countries of the need for proper planning to ensure economic development of the right kind, which not only accelerates the rate of growth but also reduces inequalities. What is important for maximising human satisfaction is not only the size of the national income and the rate of growth but its content and the nature of growth. Our plan and development should be designed to benefit the poorest sections of society more directly and in a manner which reduces regional and other socio-economic disparities. This is at the core of our concept of growth with social justice. It is for this reason that more specific emphasis is sought to be placed during the Fifth Five Year Plan on employment and the minimum needs programme.

Development is a continuous process. The quality of our plans and their implementation will have to keep pace with the challenge of growth with social justice. Greater attention will have to be paid to the collection on basic data, formulation of detailed plans, co-ordination between different sectors and review and evaluation of performance. Dr. K. Puttaswamaiah's book on ‘Aspects of Planning’ is based on his experience in evaluation and deals with the concepts of planning as well as problems in implementation. It is an useful contribution which I hope will be read with interest by those who are concerned with the role of planning and evaluation in economic development.

M.Y. GHORPADE
Minister Finance and
Information Governement of
Karnataka

The aims of planning and the means selected for implementation of plans are closely bound up with economic and social purposes; likewise, the methodology of plan formulation is greatly influenced by the aims of planning and the means of implementation. The aims of plans and the means selected for their implementation, however, are not choices that can be made independently of one another. If the methods of implementation have to be appropriate to the objectives, it is also true that the objectives have to be realistically chosen in the light of the measures for implementation available to Governments. This monograph on Aspects of Planning deals with the various facets of planning which, it is hoped, enables to determine the objectives of plans and means of their implementation.

India is on the threshold of the Fifth Five Year Plan in which the objective of Growth with Social Justice has been enshrined. Translation of this objective into reality will mean the changeover in the methodology of plan formulation from the traditional productionoriented to the consumption-oriented method. The need for this change was emphasised by me in an article published in Southern Economist in January 1972. The Chapter on consumption planning in this monograph is thus more or less based on that article. The need, problems and methods of perspective planning have also been analysed in this book.

Whatever may be the merits of the plans, the purpose will not be achieved if they are not properly implemented. One of the pitfalls contributing to the failure of plans is the lack of administrative co-ordination in the process of development. What do we mean by administrative co-ordination? In what situations they are lacking and desirable? How can we achieve them? These and many more questions on this subject which are discussed in this monograph, it is hoped, may be of utility in the context of plan implementation.Evaluation of late has been recognised as a very important tool for assessing the performance and identifying the pitfalls for corrective measures in the process of planning. The different types, scope, timeliness and characteristics of evaluation.are also discussed- The role of evaluation in the on text of the Fifth Plan and suggestions to enlarge the utility of evaluation in the coming years are discussed. This monograph on various aspects of planning, it is hoped, will be received wall by all those concerned with planning and development.

Shri M. Y. Ghorpade, M. A. (Cantab), Hon'ble Minister for Finance and information has been kind enough to write the foreword and 1 am very greatful to him. Shri K.N.Subrahmanya, Editor, Southern Economist has permitted me to use my articles which were earlier published. I am thankful to Southern Economist for having agreed to be the publishers of this book. My thanks are also due to Sudin Printers for their co-operation in bringing out this book in a short time.

                                                                                               K. PUTTASWAMAIAH

Foreword                                                                                             v
Preface                                                                                               vii   
I. Planning at all levels                                                                         1
II Consumption planning-Method and utility                                        5
III. Perspective Planning -The need, problems and utility                  12
IV. The Implementation of Plans                                                        27
V. Administrative Co-ordination for Economic Development               36
VI. Planning and Evaluation                                                               48
Select Bibliography                                                                             61    
Index                                                                                                  65

ASPECTS OF PLANNING 1977, pp 66
EXTRACTS FROM BOOK REVIEWS
“Dr. Puttaswamaiah’s monograph on various aspects of planning, much of which is based on his own observation and experience, should be of great interest to all those concerned with planning and development”.
                                SOUTHERN ECONOMIST.
"The book will be read with interest by persons involved in the critical aspects of economic planning”.
                                 FINANCIAL EXPRESS.
"This monograph, which is the result of the experience of the author in plan formulation and evaluation", deals with the various facets of planning as
well as problems in imp1ementation”.
                                 MANAGEMENT IN GOVERNMENT.
"The timely publication of this monograph on ‘Aspects of Planning’ which deals with the various facets of planning will enable the readers to reaffirm the
objectives of planning and determine the means of their  achievement".
                                 PRAJNAN.
"It is a useful publication to all concerned with planning”. 
                                 THE MYSORE ECONOMIC RE VIEW.
"This book will be invaluable aid to administrators... and an invaluable addition  to any good library”.
                                 DECCAN HERALD.