INTRODUCTION

Planning plays an important role in the smooth functioning of an economy. In 1950, the Government set up
the Planning Commission to create, develop, and execute India’s five-year plans. The basic objectives of
growth, employment, self-reliance, and also social justice. Further, it also takes into account the new
constraints and possibilities to make the necessary directional changes and emphasis.

OBJECTIVES

 Economic Growth
 Economic Equity and Social Justice
 Full Employment
 Economic
 Self-Reliance
 Modernisation

APPROACH

First Five Year Plan of India (1951-56)

On December 8, 1951, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru presented the first five-year plan to
the Parliament of India. This was based on the Harrod-Domar model. At that time, India was facing three
problems – the influx of refugees, a severe shortage of food, and also mounting inflation. Community
development programme launched in 1952. The focus was on children’s health to reduce infant mortality
and to control population growth Various health programmes such as BCG vaccination, community
development programme, National malaria control programme, National Family programme, National
Leprosy Control programme, and National Filaria control programme launched during this plan. There was
seven-point public health programme on provision of water supply and sanitation, control of malaria,
preventive health care of rural population through health units and a mobile unit, health services for mother
and children, health education, self-sufficiency in drugs and equipment, and family planning and population
control.

Second Five Year Plan of India (1956-61) or Mahalanobis Plan

The focus of the Second Plan was rapid industrialization, especially the development of heavy industries
and capital goods, like iron, steel, chemicals, etc and abolition of the Zamindari system and the creation of
cooperatives among the rural poor. Professor Mahalanobis developed the plan.
Under this plan, various health programs initiated in health sector such as the National Malaria Control
Programme converted into National Malaria Eradication Programme, Trachoma Control Pilot projects, and
Pilot projects for Eradication of small pox.
Third Five Year Plan of India (1961-66)

During the third five year plan, various sectors such as defence, price stabilization, construction of dams,
cement and fertilizers plants, education etc. were the priority areas. The health programs such as the
National small pox Eradication Programme, school health programme, National Goiter Control
Programme, District tuberculosis programme, Applied nutrition programme, Reinforced Extended
Family planning and Indian council of Medical research Director recommended Lippes loop as safe and
effective for a mass program, “Direct” BCG vaccination, and International Post-partum Family planning
programme are the land marks during this plan.
Three Annual Plans from 1966-69
Three annual plans drafted between 1966 and 1968, and emphasis was on agriculture and exports. This
period is “Plan Holidays” because of Indo-Pakistan war and failure of the Third five-year plan. Due to the
crisis in agriculture sector and serious food shortage, a new agricultural strategy.
Fourth Five Year Plan of India (1969-74)
During the Fourth Five-year plan, the main emphasis was on agriculture growth and hence put slogan
“Garibi-Hatao” during 1971. All India Hospitals’ postpartum and family planning programme, started in
1970 in addition to other health programs.
Fifth Five Year Plan of India (1974-79)
The fifth plan launched to achieve two main objectives, namely “removal of poverty” (Garibi-Hatao) and
“attainment of self-reliance”, through the promotion of high rate of growth and better distribution of
income. This plan terminated in 1978(instead of 1979). During the fifth five-year plan, various health
programs and initiatives took place. These are National programme of minimum needs, a scheme for
setting up 30-bedded rural hospitals, one such hospital for every four primary health centres, Integrated
child development from October2, 1975, National programme for prevention of Blindness, Rural health
scheme in 1977, Revised modified plan for Malaria eradication and ROME (Re-orientation of medical
education) scheme in 1977, Declaration of Alma Ata underlined the primary health-care approach in
1978.
Sixth Five Year Plan of India (1980- 85)
There were two annual rolling plans in 1978and 1979. The main objectives of the sixth five-year plan
were to increase national income and modern technology and ensure a continuous decrease in poverty
and unemployment and population control, etc. During this five-year plan, the Government launched
various programs such as the National Leprosy Eradication programme and National Guinea-worm
Eradication programme and expanded family planning programme. It also announced National Health
policy and a new 20-point program in 1982. World health organization released the Global strategy for
health for all.
Seventh Five Year Plan of India (1985 – 90)
The objectives of the seventh five-year plan were improving productivity by upgrading technology. This
plan emphasized policies and programs, which aimed at the growth and employment opportunities. It laid
a greater emphasis on energy and social development. Private sector got priority during this five-year
plan.
The Government initiated various health programmes such as universal immunization programme,
central Rural sanitation programme, National Diabetes control programme, AIDS control programme,
and blood safety programme during this five-year pln. World bank launched a world-wide “safe
motherhood” campaign in 1987, and our country initiated “control of respiratory infection programme”
in 1990 across 14 districts.
ANNUAL PLANS (1990-91 and 1991-1992)
Due to political instability in India, the government did not formulate any five-year plan in 1989-1991.
There were only annual plans during the year 1990-1991 and 1991-1992. In 1991, due to a crisis in
Foreign exchange reserves, there was a beginning of privatization and liberalization in India.
Eighth Five Year Plan of India (1992 – 97)
The government of India launched the eighth five-year plan in1992. The focus was on economic
liberalization and modernization of industries. There was a private investment in major public sector
undertakings and a greater rural and agricultural development.
The government initiated various health programs such as the Child Survival and Safe motherhood
programme and reproductive and child health programme. ICDS renamed as Integrated Mother and Child
Development Services (IMCD) in1995. The government observed a single-event for Pulse Polio
Immunization in the first and second phases. Family Planning Programme made target free from 1st April
1996 and Revised National Tuberculosis Programme with DOTS introduced as Pilot Project in 1983.

Ninth Five Year Plan of India (1997 – 2002)

The main objectives of the ninth five-year plan were agricultural and rural development, empowerment
of women, and providing basic requirements such as health, drinking water, sanitation etc. The main
focus was on quality of life, generation of productive employment, and self-reliance.
The government launched various programs such as National AIDS Control Programme and Th National
programme for control and treatment of occupational diseases in 1998-1999. It also conducted National
Family Health survey-2 in 1998-1999 and adopted National policy for Older persons and health care for
the Elderly programme. The country declared Guinea worm free country in 2000, but there was the
emergence of treating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002.
Tenth Five Year Plan of India (2002 – 07)
India’s 10th five-year plan has been devised to complement and meet the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) targets. The MDG were issued in 2000 to achieve eight targets to eradicate
hunger and poverty and raise the standards of living worldwide by the year 2015 through global
cooperation.
This plan highlighted the need to combat poverty ratio, improve literacy rates, and economic growth etc.
during the tenth plan period. The health initiatives were to control population growth and reduce infant
and maternal mortality rate. The target was to the universal availability of drinking water, clearing of all
major polluted rivers and increase in the forest.
The government approved National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme approved as Umbrella
Programme for prevention of vector-borne diseases. It also launched Vandematarum scheme, Mid-day
meal scheme, and oral dehydration with existing formula, reproductive and child health 2, Janani
suraksha yojana, and national rural health mission(2005). World Health Organization released New
Paediatric Growth Chart based on breast fed children in 2006.
Eleventh Five Year Plan of India (2007-12)
The major objectives of the 11th five-year plan are to increase GDP growth and income generation and to
combat poverty and elementary school education in general. The main focus on the health sector was to
reduce infant and maternity mortality, total fertility rate, malnutrition among children of age group 0-3 to
half, and anemia among women and girls.
The government launched various health programs such as National Tobacco control programme in 42
districts of 21 states/union territories, The Rajiv Aarogyasri Health scheme especially the poor and under
privileged, National programme for prevention and control of Deafness, and National Rural drinking
water supply programme. It also activated emergency transportation services on 108 number and health
information- a caller-free telephone services on 104 number.
The government provided free entitlement to pregnant women in government health institutions under
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram and implemented total sanitation campaign, Mid-day meal scheme
and integrated child development services.
Twelfth Five Year Plan of India (2012 – 17)
Twelfth five-year plan is the last plan of government of India developed by Planning commission before
its dissolution on October 2011. The vision of the plan was “Faster, sustainable and more inclusive
 growth”. This plan is more health oriented and set measurable health targets and strategies to achieve by
the end of the plan. The main focus is on comprehensive healthcare. The health goals are as follows:
 To reduce the infant mortality rate to 25/1000 live birth.
 To reduce maternity mortality rate to 100/100,000 live birth.
 To reduce under-five mortality rate to 38/1000 live birth
 To reduce the TFR to 2.1
 To prevent and reduce under-nutrition in children under 3 years to half of national family
health survey levels to 27%.
 To reduce anemia among women of age group 15-49 years to 28%.
 To raise child sex ratio in the 0-to 6-year age group from 914 to 950.
 To reduce annual incidence and mortality of tuberculosis to zero in all districts.
 To reduce Japanese encephalitis mortality by 30%.
During 12th Five-year plan, the Government launched National Urban Health Mission, submission of
National Health mission on 20th January 2014 in all cities/ towns with a population of more than 50,000
with the aim to improve the health of urban people especially slum dwellers. It also launched Mission
Indhradhanush on 25th December 2014 to achieve the target of full coverage of immunization by 2020 to
children either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against 12 life-threatening vaccine preventable
diseases. It implemented National AYUSH mission, AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
The Government launched various health programs such as prevention and control viral hepatitis
programme and Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram in 2014. It also planned services for early
identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years to cover any abnormality
including disability under Rashtriya swasthya karyakaram.
There were many areas under consideration during the 12th five-year plan. These are as follows:
 Transformation of NRHM to NHM
 Building capacity through expansion of teaching and training of health professionals.
 A system of universal Health Coverage
 Review of the regulatory system and drug regulation
 Development and strengthening of public health-care system and infrastructures.
 Reforming Rashtriya swasthya Bima Yojana to cover the entire BPL population for health care
 Continue to have mix health system both by the public and private health-care providers.
 Computerized and interlinking all health facilities at all levels and use of mobile technology
 Restructuring of ICDS program
 Proper regulation of public-private partnership to finance health-care services.
Three-Year Action Agenda
Five-year plans end in March 2017. The role of NITI Aayog prepared a Fifteen-year vision, Seven-year
strategy, and Three-year action agenda documents. Fifteen-year vision and Seven-year strategy are under
preparation, and Three-year action agenda document is ready. This document has 7 parts and 21 chapters
and health agenda.