State Planning Department :

History of Formation :

The State Planning Department was absent before the formation of the state, After 1948,these functions  whatsoever were performed by the Chief Commissioner and his subordinate officials before 1951 and by Lieutenant Governor till 1971. But when responsible government established in 1952 under Dr. Parmar, since there was a little say of the Chief Minister but he was consulted only in the planning process of those matters which were of less important and strategical planning were prepared by the representative of the Central Government in the state.

Thereafter,in 1956 Himachal Pradesh raised to the status of Union Territory. Under this new administrative set up there was a provision of Territorial Council" which was established under the chairmanship of Thakur Karam Singh. District Boards were also created in 1957.These organisations both Territorial Council and District Board had to chalk out the future plans of the state, but only in those subjects which were of less importance and the subjects which were of more importance were under the deliberation of Lieutenant Governor and other permanent executives of the State Government.

The year of 1963 witnesses some changes in the administration of the State government. During this periodTerritorial Council changed to Legislative Assembly and this political organisation of the state was responsible for the planning preparation of the state with other merged institutions in the field of health, irrigation, fisheries education, etc. With the merger of hill areas of Punjab in Himachal, the administrative area of the state increased nearly two fold. Political representatives of new areas were also included in the State Legislature and Cabinet respectively. The breadth and strength of the subjects in which planning have to be prepared were also increased by nearly two fold.

In 1971, there was a drastic change in the field of planning machinery of the state. There is use of appropriate methods for plan preparation and old methods which were unscientific and irrational have wiped out. At present the State Planning Department is all pervasive institution in the field of plan formulation. This organisation is headed by an Advisory Planning and Works: Under the Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary Planning, who is senior most officer of Indian Administrative Services. The department is divided into eight divisions for its proper functioning. These divisions are as follows :

1. Administrative Division. 2. Plan Formulation and Implementation Division. 3. Plan Evaluation and Monitoring Division. 4. Man power and Employment Planning Division. 5. Project Appraisal Division. 6. Regional and District Planning Division. 7. Perspective Division. 8. Computer Cell.

Thus, from the above illustration of different divisions of the H.P. State Planning Department, it is clear that at present this organisation has come up as a think tank in State Administration for future growth and Development of the Stat .This organisation during preparation of Plan and other important functions keeps the guidelines and suggestions of central level Planning Commission is intact. In this direction the State Planning Department is the main link of coordination , guidance and direction for all planning matters between the Centre and the state. Apart from this, the department has to work under the overall directions of the Central Planning Commission and State Planning Board. The other important points of State Planning Department are its large number of technical and other experts working for the proper chalkout of the planning system. Whereas the department is not free from bureaucratic and political control. The Planning Departments efforts to function impartially is undermined to a larger extent as the political and bureaucratic influence is greater in moulding the state plans. Thus, politics of planning in Himachal is pervasive and sometimes some area remained neglected where there is no influential political backup.

As it is a well known fact that there are three stages in planning process i.e. plan formulation, implementation and review. For formulation of plan there are State Planning Board, State Planning Department and various department, Public Cooperative,Boards and Commissions i.e. line agencies are for implementation purpose. But incase of review of the plan there is not effective machinery. Planning formulatin and review are two different functions and for these purpo^ there should be different specialised organisations.

The State Planning Board :

 The planning mechanism at state level is known as state planning board and is an apex body of the State government in this field. To some extent,the roles and functions of this Boards are analogous with Central Planning Commission and performs its role on the guidelines suggested by this organisation, working at the all India level. The State Planning Board is headed by the Chief Minister of the state as its Chairman, The Ministers of state government, Members of the Parliament representing the state in Indian Parliament and few academicians and experts are also included in it. Besides these, Commissioner-cum-Secretaries are also act as its members. The advisor of Planning Department is its member secretary and performs his duties for the betterment of the Board's objectives. Thus, due to this character of the Board, it depends for secretarial help on the secretary of the Planning Department.

Functions of State Planning Board :The Administrative Reforms Commission has recommended the following functions of the State Planning Board.

1. To make an assessment of the State resources and formulate plans for the most effective and balanced utilization of resources.

2. To determine plan priorities of the state within the frame work of the priorities of the National Plan.

3. To assist district authorities in formulating their development plans within the sphere in which such planning is considered useful and feasible

4. To identify factors which tend to retard economic and social development ol the state and determine conditions to be established for successful execution of the Plan .

5. To review the progress of implementation of the plan programmes and recommend such adjustments in policies and measures as the review may  indicates.