THE BOMBAY PLAN (1944)

In the early 1944, several eminent industrialists and economists of Bombay Sir Purshottamdas Thakurdas, Mr. J.R.D. Tata and six others made another attempt and published a development plan, which was called Bombay plan. Its main purpose was to stimulate the thinking of the people and to lay down the principles on the basis of which a national plan could be formulated and executed. The planners observed that the plan set out in it is neither in any sense a complete scheme nor as comprehensive as that of the National Planning committee. The central aim of the plan was to raise the national income to such a level that after meeting the minimum requirements of every individual we would be left with enough resources for the enjoyment of life and for cultural activities.” Thus, its objective was at doubling the per capita income in the country over a period of 15 years. It proposed the increase of about 130 per cent and 500 percent, in agriculture and industry respectively. The total outlay of Rs. 10,000 crores were recommended. The planners believed that this could be achieved only by reducing the overwhelming predominance of agriculture and by establishing a balanced economy. This plan was the systematic scheme of economic planning which made the country plan minded. Its major shortcoming was of maintenance of a capitalist order and giving step-motherly treatment to agriculture sector.

GANDHIAN PLAN (1944)

Gandhian Plan which based upon Gandhian philosophy was put forward by Shri S.N. Agarwal of Wardha. The outlay of the plan was estimated Rs. 3500 crores only and it sought to set up a decentralized economy with self-sufficient villages and Industrial production. It laid emphasis on small scale industries and agriculture. But its scheme of financing was unsound. This plan was criticized as inconsistent and insufficient.

Sarvodaya Plan

It was drafted by Jaiprakash Narayan. The plan was mainly inspired by the Gandhian Plan provided by S N Agarwal & the Idea of Sarvodaya presented by another Gandhian leader Vinoba Bhave.

The sarvodaya plan put forward and emphasized the importance of agriculture and village industries especially small-scale textile & cottage industries in the process of economic development. The plan also recommended the Luddite approach and was pessimistic towards the usage of foreign technology.

The most important and well acclaimed part of the plan was its emphasis upon land reforms and decentralized participatory people planning.

PEOPLE’S PLAN (1945)

Another plan was prepared by the late M.N. Roy (a ten-year plan) called the ‘People Plan.’ It was different from the Bombay plan in methodology and priorities. Its chief emphasis was on agricultural and consumer goods industries through collectivization and setting up of state-owned industrialization.

The total outlay was of Rs. 15000 crores. It also advocated the nationalization of land. The plan was ambitious as it could not properly mobilize the resources. Therefore, it was totally impracticable.

POST WAR RECONSTRUCTION (1941- 46)

The government of India during June, 1941and appointed a reconstruction committee of the cabinet with Viceroy as Chairman and the members of the Executive Council as Members. In June 1944 Planning and Development Department was created under a separate member of the Executive Council for organizing the planning work in the country. To assist the department, there was a Planning and Development Board consisting of Secretaries of economic department. It suggested to State Governments that special priority should be given to schemes for training technical personnel. In 1946 the work of planning had practically been completed and the department of planning and development was abolished.