(a) whether the Union Government is considering to set up a high level group in the
Planning Commission to monitor service sector performance;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government is also considering to set up a group which can monitor
the slow growth of Agricultural Sector;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (SHRI M.V. RAJASEKHARAN)
(a) & (b): The Planning Commission has initiated action for setting up a High Level Group to
look into the various factors influencing the performance of the service sector and suggest policy
measures which would need to be taken to sustain its competitiveness in the coming years. The
High Level Group will function under the overall Guidance of Planning Commission and will
include experts from the relevant areas.
(c) to (e): The National Farmer`s Commission under the Chairmanship of Dr. M. S.
Swaminathan has already gone into the various issues related to the agricultural sector including
its slow growth and has submitted its reports to the Government. The Planning Commission has
also set up 12 Working Groups to make recommendations on various aspects of development of
the agricultural and allied sectors in the Eleventh Plan. A Steering Group under the
Chairmanship of Dr. C. H. Hanumantha Rao would also, inter alia, go into the issue of slow
agricultural growth. There is no proposal under consideration of Planning Commission at present
for setting up yet another group to monitor the slow growth of the agricultural sector.