Civil society groups have voiced their scepticism even as the government readies a revised approach paper to the 12th five-year plan.

Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA), Delhi-based civil society group which tracks government policies in the social sector released the civil society's inputs for the 12th five-year plans's approach paper.

The report titled, “Approaching equity: civil society inputs for the approach paper” was submitted to planning commission in December.

More than 600 civil society groups representing variously the interests of children, youth, women, elderly and sectoral interests in education, health etc. participated in the meeting organised by WNTA in a monthlong nation-wide consultation.

The suggestions have been compiled by WNTA for use by the planning commission during the drafting of the 12th plan.

Some of the key concerns and recommendations of the civil society groups in the 243 page report:

•    GDP growth alone as a goal of planning is rejected by all civil society groups and suggested instead that a comprehensive real-time database on the marginalization of and violence against the poor and vulnerable must first be created in order to enable more realistic and just planning.

•    Investments for the poor should be increased and programmes like the Public Distribution System, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, Swarn Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana be strengthened.

•    Special steps need to be taken to make cheap credit and other financial services available to the poor who are at present largely unbanked.

•    Transparency, accountability, and monitoring have to increase and mechanisms for people's participation in monitoring should be established.

•    Laws should be strictly followed, especially labour laws, and protection laws enacted for children, dalits, adivasis, women, people with disability, and Muslims.

•    Justice has to be ensured through proper rehabilitation and resettlement for those being voluntarily displaced.

•    Proper registration and enumeration of the migrants, portability of their entitlements, and security of their rights has to be ensured.

•    Improve local governance by initiating information education and communication campaigns along with proper devolution supported by institutional mechanisms, and financial and administrative support.