Notes & News

Third five year plan-while the country is in the midst of the second five year plan, thoughts are extended to the undertaking of the third plan. The chronic food shortages in the country has to be tackled and agriculture is to be given its due prominence, which was long overdue. This will also arrest the drainage of foreign exchange for import of food stuff. Side by side with agriculture, cottage industry, small scale industry and heavy industry may alsOl grow. Percapita earning of the people, majority of whom (70%) dwell in villages, will increase through agriculture and animal husbandry if science and atomic power come to aid. Cottage industry will offer scope to villages, during off season. To lead the country, gradually to a classless society in socialistic pattern, attention has to be focussed on the people of low income group. The third plan should, therefore, be of mixed economy, embracing agriculture and industry. The foreign exchange of hard currency area, at credit to Govt. has dwindled during last few years. Loans cannot prop up a nation. We have therefore to aim at self sufficiency and endeavour to earn by exporting. Comments are there that in India the economists Plan, the Engineers execute. For the third plan, the Planning may be vested on the Engineers. We hope this would yield better result.