Speaking at the Economic Editors Conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia said : “FDIs in the high segment like multi-brand retail chain will help us to achieve 9% growth rate. The livelihood of small retailers will not be endangered as the multi-brand retail chains as these would be located in few place in metros and mini-metros.”

He informed that the approach paper to the 12th Five Year Plan was being finalized and would be presented to the National Development Council by the middle of the next year as 2011 would be the last year of the 11th Plan. The Plan would foster inclusive growth. The Plan panel has also invited comments from interested public.

The Food Security Bill under the consideration of the government has plans to distribute 35 kg grains to the poor at highly subsidized rates.

A committee has been set up to study the diversion of Plan funds by the state governments in the northeastern parts of the country, he said.

The 12th Plan will also include monitoring targets and also growth and HDI targets like those in the 11th Plan document.

The 12th Plan will have provisions for implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Awaas Yojana in urban areas. In the 12th Plan it will be implemented first as pilot projects, the deputy chairman said.

He said that agriculture need to perform better and grow at 4% and this would be possible if the food segment grows at 2% and non-food segment at 7%. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Programme should help in increasing the land productivity, ensure watershed management and road connectivity. Land productivity should be increased to 80% or 100%.