Most of India's problems originate not from the lack of elaborate plans, but for the lack of seriousness in implementation. Critically discuss with suitable examples.

December 4, 2022 February 21, 2024

Planning is a vital process which lays foundation for the effective realisation of the goals and objectives. But planning in itself will not yield desired results if it is not backed by sound implementation mechanisms.
It is said that Most of India’s problems originate not from the lack of elaborate plans, but for the lack of seriousness in implementation. Some of the examples are listed below:
Forest rights act
The forest rights act was a revolutionary step which took forward the inclusive approach towards forest management brought in by the forest rights act 2006. But the implementation of the act saw some serious lapses.
Mistrust of forest bureaucracy towards forest dwellers, more emphasis on recognising individual rights rather than community rights, vested groups manipulating the rights for legalising encroachments has led to failure in realising the objectives of the act.
MNREGA
MNREGA made a new opening by recognising right to work. It also provided allowances in case there was inability on part of executive to provide employment. To ensure effectiveness of the scheme there were also provisions for social audit.
But delay in disbursal of funds and the bureaucratic apathy has led to reluctance on part of government to register the workers. The social audit mechanism is not able to realise its potential due to lack of clarity which is also a policy failure no just implementation.
Continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE)
RTE brought in continuous and comprehensive evaluation process to ensure holistic development of children and as part of no detention policy. But there are serious lapses on the part of schools, teachers and education ministries in the implementation of the CCE.
The CCE was made scapegoat for declining quality of education. And it was scrapped.
Planning and implementation act hand in hand not in isolation. The flaws in implementation can also stem flawed planning process. Raghuram Rajan once said that the bureaucracy in India is not aware of ground realities as they can avail all the services at ease. As a result the flaws arise at the planning stage itself.
Post Independence forest policies till forest policy of 1986
Colonial period adopted exclusionist approach towards forest management. This exclusionist approach continued in post independence period. This posed severe challenges in the forest management together posing livelihood challenges to the tribals.
In India it is said that failures are more due to inefficiencies in the arena of implementations which fail to realise the objectives of the well planned policies. But the failures are not solely due to the implementation errors they have contribution from planning arena as well.