Regional Planning in India

The concept of regional development is based on the development of

specific regions. It is generally undertaken where Regional differences exist
and where a particular is to be developed (Ninth Five Year Plan, p. 17).
Regional Development is carried through the regional planning which is a
technique to evaluate the potential of sub-natural areas and to develop
them to the best advantages of the nation as a whole (Misra, R.P., 1992,
p.57).
Like the national planning the regional planning also has the objective of
accelerating the process of social advancement of the community through
the technique of economic and social planning, though it is restricted to the
given region <}r area of the country. The major objective of the regional
development is to remove regional disparities in respect of economic and
social development and bring out the region at par with other regions of the
country.

It is a significant means to remove regional backwardness, meet regional

aspirations and demands, make optimum and judicious use of regional
resources, solve regional problems and involve local people in plan formulation
and implementation. It may also help in conserving the environment and
cultural heritage of a particular region.
The planning for regional development involves identifying the regionalism
present, demarcating the region, determining the need of the region,
formulating the plan, implementing the plan within the framework of
government set up and reviewing the implementation of the plan (Misra,
R.P.,1992).
Such planning should also take into account the problems to be tackled,
objectives of the planning, availability of the resources, policy alternatives and
their impacts, type of investment needed, cost of planning, planning priorities,
design and layout, policy decision and the implementing authority.
Regional development has two dimensions, i.e., (i) conceptual base, and (ii)
implementation of development plans and policies. The need for regional
development was felt since the beginning of the planning era in the country.

That is why during the first and second five-year plans special
attention was given to develop backward areas. A number of new
industrial centers were located in backward areas to provide boost up
to the regional economy and create employment opportunities for
local people.
During the Third Five Year Plan it was decided to accelerate the
industrial and agricultural activities on the regional basis to achieve
the goal of balanced regional development. But at the end of the plan
it was realized that there has not been considerable progress in
realizing the objective of balanced regional development.
The Fourth Five Year Plan marks a watershed in Indian planning, as it
spelt out, for the first time, some distinct regional policies and took
certain concrete steps towards balanced regional development.
Since the Fourth Plan it was realized that in order to reach the social
and economic goals of development, a greater diffusion and growth of
activity and employment at local levels would be needed.
Hence, some attempts were made to decentralize the planning
process to the sub- national and sub-state levels.

This change may be seen as a shift towards more enlightened approach to the understanding of
regional problems, assessment of local and regional needs and initiation programmes that may
benefit local areas or ergot.
Another compulsion which stimulated regional thinking at this time was the great concern the
widening interregional disparities in the country For instance, during the decade between 1960
an! 1970, the difference in per capita net domestic product among states had increased from 1.9;
1.0 to 2.fl 1.0. Such vast regional disparities in the country had their political repercussions in
some areas, which brought the problem of backward areas into sharp focus.
Among the backward areas, the need to accelerate development of areas inhabited by certain
social groups like the tribal's, who had been bypassed during the development process, had
become a priority issue. Simultaneously the need was felt for directing effort towards building
elements of special I assistance to small and marginal farmers and agricultural laborers in the
area development programmers.
These considerations led to the evolution I of a definite "target area" and "target group"
approach in planning, which must be seen as important I developments since the Fourth Plan
(Sundaram, I 1978, pp.73-74).
Therefore, in the Fourth Plan measures were initiated to consider backward regions in I the
allocation of financial assistance to the states, (ii) I to install central projects in the backward
areas, (iii) I to make provision of financial support to medium I and small industries in the
backward areas, and (iv) to provide special financial assistance to small and 1 marginal farmers
and agricultural laborers in rural areas.

The measures introduced during the Fourth Plan have been

continued and even enlarged during the Fifth Plan. During the Sixth
Plan programmes of technology up gradation and technology
transfer were initiated to strengthen the resource base of the re
gion. Presently the concept is to develop the backward regions as
an integral part of the overall planning process.
The salient features of the policy/ programme which are guiding
regional development include:
(1)An interregional allocation policy tilted in favor of backward
States,
(1) An incentive policy designed to attract investments in
industrially backward regions and areas,
(1)A sub-plan approach for some special problem areas to ensure
that investments from the state and Central sectors flow to such
areas in a coordinated manner to undertake programme and
schemes specially designed to their interests and needs, and
(2)A social justice approach towards provision of minimum needs
so that the disadvantaged areas may achieve parity in items of
social consumption.
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