Question : DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS REPORT

(a) whether the Planning Commission has decided to prepare development progress report of some States;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the basis on which the Planning Commission has selected these States?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC GRIEVANCES IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)

(a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 152 FOR ANSWER ON 2.08.2000 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS REPORT BY SHRI TUFANI SAROJ

(a) & (b): Planning Commission has decided to prepare State Development Reports (and not Development Progress Reports) for States with a view to bring out credible documents that would help set the agenda for the economic growth of the States. State Development Reports (SDRs) would be documents sponsored by Planning Commission but which would take an independent and analytical look at the development of the States in various aspects. SDRs are expected to highlight critical issues for the States and stimulate debate. States will be fully involved in the preparation of these Reports. States for which development reports are to be prepared during the years 2000-01 and 2001-02 are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

The Commission has initiated action for preparation of above reports. A Core Committee is being constituted for each State headed by the concerned Member, Planning Commission including representatives from the concerned State Governments and partner institutions. Core Committees have been formed so far in respect of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Tamil Nadu while the constitution of similar committees in respect of the remaining States is under progress, and is expected to be completed shortly.

(c) : Identification of States for preparing these Reports has been done keeping in view the general level of development in the States, their size, the growth achieved by the States in the last two decades, assignment of a balanced workload amongst the Members responsible for the States and an appropriate geographic distribution.