Andhra Pradesh Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-79) Draft Outline

Abstract

The outline of the draft proposals for the Fifth Five- Year Plan of Andhra Pradesh has had to be prepared subject to certain important limitations. First and foremost, the resources position was uncertain. No doubt, the Planning Commission had in the meeting of Planning Secretaries of the States held on 31st January, 1973 clarified that the exercise might begin on the assumption that the outlay on the Fifth Five Year Plan would be double that of the Fourth. Five Year Plan. It was only later on 2nd June, 1973 that the Planning Commission had indicated that we might assume the outlay on the Plan to be Rs. 1,075 crores including the Minimum Needs Programme. However, in the case of Andhra Pradesh there were many weighty reasons, which have been explained in detail in Chapter 6 as to why the outlay on the Fourth Plan could not be taken as the basis for any projection for the Fifth Plan. At the same time, it was evident that the preparation of an entirely need-based Plan would have been an exercise in wishful thinking as well as futility. While, therefore, the inadequacy and the inequity of the Fourth Plan outlay being accepted as a basis could be conceded, it had to be recognised that outlay that would be needed for the State to achieve a rate of growth of its economy necessary for the present regional imbalances to be wiped out may not be feasible. A reasonable balance had to be struck and it is our hope that the outlay for which these proposals have been finally worked out represents such a balance.