The concept “Inclusion” should be seen as a process of including the excluded as agents whose participation is essential in the very design of the development process, and not simply as welfare targets of development programmes (Planning Commission, 2007). 1 The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) envisions inclusive growth as a key objective.
The Plan document notes that the economic growth has failed to be sufficiently inclusive particularly after the mid-1990s. The Indian economy, though achieved a high growth momentum during 2003-04 to 2007-08, could not bring down unemployment and poverty to tolerable levels. Further, a vast majority of the population remained outside the ambit of basic health and education facilities during this high growth phase.