The Tenth Plan

Preparation Stages of Approach Paper

Approach Paper has been prepared as a guideline for formulating the Tenth Five Plan. It began first preparing its conception paper. Then after, its thorough reviewing and discussions among the working team, the paper had been presented into the forum of consultation meetings to consolidate broader perspectives from various citizen. This has been held at different levels such as of District, Regional and Central. The paper has been finalized only after incorporating the comments, suggestions and observations along with its endorsement by the NDC in their meetings. The NDC meeting also given authority to NPC and its Secretariat for proceeding main Tenth Five Year Plan document formulation in line with the final approach paper.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (NDC) AND MEETINGS HELD TO APPROVE THE APPROACH PAPER

His Majesty’s the King, in his new year’s message to the nation on April 13, 1972 had underlined the need of a National Development Council (NDC) with a view to accelerating the pace of economic development in a manner consistent with the actual needs and aspirations of the people as reflected in the development plan, formulated for the welfare of the entire Nepalese people. Accordingly, His Majesty’s constituted NDC under His Chairmanship on June 11, 1972.

Following the restoration of multi-party democratic system in the country, His Majesty’s Government reorganized the NDC on December 26,1991, with and aim to provide an opportunity to all the region, class and community to contribute to the all round development of the country as well as to provide an institutional stability to the development process through speedy socio-economic development . The council consists of representative of various groups and communities drawn from various walks of national life. The major function of the council is to provide directives to the National Planning Commission on various development issues of national importance. In addition, the council also gives directives to the Commission on the formulation of periodic and annual plans as well as on their budgets.

MEETINGS HELD TO APPROVE THE APPROACH PAPER FOR THE FORMULATION OF TENTH PLAN

Democratic Government had already experiences of two Five Year Plans (Eighth and Ninth) and Tenth Plan is formulated inline with the approach paper. Approach Paper, thus, consider as a consensus of country wide representation. Efforts had been made to incorporate the aspiration from the grass root people to the top levels so that it would much more realistic and also set minds into one track to follow accordingly at least for five years. There are set prior norms of NDC and its meeting directives so that it would be consolidated into its final shape of Approach Paper. After its final approval it would be recommended to proceed the formulation of main plan document accordingly.

Proceeding of NDC under the chairmanship of Rt. Hon’ble Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba was held during March and 2001. The meeting approved the Tenth Plan approach paper after its in-depth discussion along with necessary directives and suggestions to incorporate during the formulation of Tenth Plan.

Six groups were formed to discuss heavily on the Tenth Plan working paper. It is believed that the important and practical suggestions made by the groups considered to be big support to the NPC for the preparation of the Tenth Plan.

Tenth Plan become the first plan of the twenty first century, entering into the millennium thus believed to be capable in fulfilling constructive form the Nepal and Nepalese aspirations. In this proceeding, NPC obtained very useful direction from the Hon’ble Prime Minister, conclusions drawn during the group discussions and thoughts expressed by the council members are considered to be milestone in conjunction to the demand of the people and the changed context of the country in formulating appropriate policy for fruitful programmes.

The first meeting of the NDC, after it was constituted under the chairmanship of Rt. Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala, was held during April 8 and 9, 1992. The meeting approved, in principle, the approach paper of the Eighth Plan (1992-97) prepared and tabled by the Government that assumed office after the general election, following the democratic movement in the country. Besides, the Meeting also deliberated upon the progress review of the Seventh Plan and the preliminary report on the impact of its implementation upon the lives of the people. The meeting also reviewed progress of various on-going projects. On behalf of His Majesty’s Government, Mr. Bal Bahadur Rai, Minister for Housing and Physical Planning, who chaired the second session on the second day of the Meeting, assured that all the valuable suggestions put forward during the deliberations will be taken into consideration at the time of the formulation and implementation of the Eighth Plan.

In the course of his address, the Rt. Hon’ble Prime Minister and Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala observed that as Nepal consists of villages and that most people live below the absolute poverty line. It is imperative that the fruit of economic development has to be percolated down to village level and reach the rural people. In order to attain this, the Government seeks to adopt the planning process which envisages the formulation and implementation of the rural development programmes at the local level itself by enlisting participation of local people, within the framework of decentralization policy.

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