Siren Voices

the Planning Commission as an advisory body, resurrect the functions which were originally intended for it, and ruthlessly shed other powers and prerogatives accumulated over the wasted years. This naturally calls for a clear re-formulation of the Commission's relations with the Central Government, with Central Ministries and with the Governments in the States. The Commission's relationship with them should be that of an expert body whose task it is to spell out the implications of overall plans and policies for each. It cannot be that of an authority engaged in mediating, bargaining or settling disputes, as is often suggested in the mistaken belief that essentially political problems can be divested of their political element and consequently solved more readily if they are handed over to a technical or non-political body. Ultimately such a course can only lead to the politicisation of a non-political authority.