Planning Commission offers to have members defecate in the open

Members however complain that all good spots taken by NAC

The Planning Commission announced today that in order to support the Government’s austerity drive, members of the Planning Commission would defecate in the open, outside Yojana Bhavan. However, on the condition of anonymity, Prof. Abhijit Sen complained that most good spots were taken by members of the National Advisory Council. “They cannot acquire any land for this so they are using the plot outside Yojana Bhavan”, he added.

Meanwhile, in order to establish that the decision was fully thought through and implementable, Montek Singh Alhuwalia said that the Planning Commission had closely examined the statistics and come to a conclusion that the scheme would in fact reduce Government expenditure by 28 Rs a day, enough to keep one adult a day over the poverty line. On implementation, he explained that pilot projects were being carried out as we speak, pointing in Prof. Abhijit Sen’s direction. He added that he had personally tested the practicality of the plan during six trips abroad. To drive home the austerity aspect, the Planning Commission has also decided to use all its previous Socio Economic Reports as toilet paper.

Observers have however pointed out that the friction between members of the Planning Commission and the NAC may prevent the plan from being rolled out. It is reported that these opposing groups frequently try to tip each other over while on the austerity drive. 

    

In a somewhat related development, members of the CPI(M) have refused to sit on a dharna outside Yojana Bhavan to protest the price rise resulting in crowds flocking to Yojana Bhavan to enjoy some peace and quiet.