Planning for development in Uttarakhand is meaningless unless it takes into account
intra-state variations in the level, potential and problems of development of different
regions.For ensuring optimal use of available resources it is essential to formulate
the State Plan through a series of interactive & multi-level exercises and integrating
it with regional, district and block level strategies. From the operational point
of view, a plan is a compilation of inter-related programmes/ projects/ schemes
aimed at yielding the desired results through spatial convergence and appropriate
temporal sequencing. Plan formulation is preceded by systematic analysis, survey
and investigation of major issues, relevance of alternatives and application of
new approaches. Otherwise it is likely to result in sub-optimal use of sizeable
resources and loss of valuable resources and time. Planning is an interdisciplinary
task and requires equal participation of technologists, geographers, economists,
statisticians, sociologists, management experts, general administrators and scientists.
In addition, it also requires a very deliberate and systematic inflow of reliable
information regarding the perceptions, needs preferences of people in general and
beneficiaries of specific programmes in particular. It is undoubtedly necessary
in the above perspective that the planning process should be supported with adequate
and appropriately equipped multi-disciplinary manpower capable of:-
(a) keeping a watch on economic trends, demand projections, development and utilization
of capacities,especially the production trends, policies, incentives and disincentives
and regulatory mechanisms relevant to the country as a whole;
(b) assisting development departments and lower level planning and development agencies
in decision making by projecting trends, identifying constraints, undertaking economic
analysis for formulating a policy frame-work and listing priorities from time to time;
(c) Monitoring, concurrent appraisal and evaluation of individual projects/programmes/schemes.
(d) assessing institutional and organizational potentials and constraints, specially from the
point of view of delivery of services and resources to the poorer and unorganized
sections of society;
(e) conducting diagnostic/explanatory studies and pre-testing new technologies as well
as new programmes through pilot projects;
(f) facilitating formulation and appraisal of projects;
(g) developing techniques and procedures for the continuous monitoring of intra-state
imbalances and providing methodological and logistic support for planning at the regional,
district and block levels;
(h)organizing training of officers concerned with programme implementation and regional
planning.
(i) networking with various organization, financial institutions and experts
and social scientists.