Economic Planning-Ninth Five Year Plan (1997 – 2002)

The ninth five year plan was launched on the 50th year of independence. The plan was framed taking into consideration the different drawbacks that existed in the past few five year plans.  The ninth five-year plan targeted enhancing the acceleration of the Indian economy by injecting the stability of food prices. The plan also targeted setting a standard in terms of removal of unemployment and poverty from the domain of India. 

The plan was unique in itself as it indoctrinated the concept of population control. This was very vital at that very moment to ensure that overall development. The ninth five-year plan also ensured that India could be moved toward the concept of environmental protection. The involvement of all people at various levels was urgently needed to make the objectives a huge success.  Thus, the plan ensured complete mass participation.

Explain the Ninth five-year plan (1997-2002)

The ninth five year plan was set up and introduced in India in the 50th year of independence. This plan was crafted as per the need of the moment. The structural framework was designed taking into consideration the fallouts of the previous five-year plans. 

The necessary growth with justice was and social equity was popularised under this plan. The need for employment generation and poverty alleviation was felt in the Indian economy; this was the primary objective under the ninth five-year plan.

The plan targeted increased growth with proper controlled and stable prices. As reiterated, the plan emphasised social equality by providing proper nutrition and food availability to all sections of society. Proper measures of population control and effective sustainability of the environment were targeted through this plan. 

The plan propagated the involvement of people in various established institutions, panchayats and other parishads to carry the objectives of this plan to the absolute ground level. The strategies used under the ninth five-year plan were the development of the infrastructures and enhancing the structural transformation. Use of public and private strategies means to increase the employment chances. 

The achievement of overall self-reliance was targeted through increasing the rates of exports. The emphasis was laid on the efficient allocation and application of the available resources to achieve the objectives. Special empowerment strategies were also done for the development of the backward communities in India. Ninth five year plan main aim is to empower  the potential sector of the economy to enhance overall growth.

Ninth five-year plan facts

The rate of savings of the domestic sector was 26.1%. The deficit of the current account under the ninth plan was 2.1%. The ICOR percentage was at around 4.3%. The GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate was at 6.5% under the ninth five-year plan. The growth of exports was around 11.8%. The growth of imports under the ninth five-year plan was 10.8%. The GDP at FC stood at around 6902.5 crores, whereas the GDP at MP was at around 7694.0 crores.  

Objectives of a ninth five-year plan

The ninth five-year plan was set out to compass every sector to make India prosper in all directions. The objectives were rural development and the emphasis was laid on the agriculture and allied sectors. 

The reduction of the poverty statistics was targeted and the employment generation mechanisms were employed in this plan. Under the ninth five year plan, it was felt that progress was possible only through bringing stability in the prices of food and grains; the same was incorporated under this plan. The government targeted food security and appropriate food availability through this plan. The necessary infrastructure development was also taken care of throughout India.

The infrastructure of the healthcare system, schools, sanitation and provision of safe drinking water was targeted through the ninth five-year plan. It was felt utmost necessary to control the growing population of India to ensure equitable distribution of available resources; this was also aimed under the ninth, five-year plan. 

The actions for the development of the socially backward classes and various social groups were also incorporated under this plan. Women’s emancipation and empowerment were also duly taken care of in this plan. The concept of private investments also focused and effort was directed to provide a stable market for the same in the Indian economy. 

Conclusions

The ninth five-year plan was set up to remove the lacunas that existed in the previous five-year plans. The main unique feature of the ninth five-year plan was to promote and create an ambience of proper economic growth with equity and enhanced social justice. 

The plan focused on the development of an effective strategy of mass involvement in ensuring environmental protection. The policy of birth control was also introduced under the plan. The focus was also shifted to the economically underprivileged section of society. The plan set out a well-defined framework of development focusing on various sectors like agriculture, health, education, energy and so on.