Sixth Five Year Plan 2011-2015: Accelerating Growth and Reducing Poverty.

This document contains the Sixth Five Year Plan, a national plan with a sectoral approach with a 5-year timeframe (from 2011 to 2015). The objectives of the Plan are: a) to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty by accelerating economic growth; b) to achieve sustained growth with equity and social justice; c) to reduce income inequality; d) to revitalize the rural economy through higher farm productivity and stimulating small and medium enterprises in the rural sector; e) to encourage diversification and commercialization of the agricultural sector; f) to ensure food security; g) to increase productivity of forests; h) to mitigate and adapt to adverse impacts of climate change on the environment.
Food insecurity and malnutrition will be addressed by cross-sectoral interdependent interventions covering sectors such as agriculture, health, water and sanitation, education and disaster management. Severe malnutrition and the proportion of malnourished children will be reduced. Gender disparity in child malnutrition will be eliminated. Food prices will be stabilized to ease the access to food of the poor. Priority will be given to groups which are most vulnerable to malnutrition such as infants, pre-school children especially girls, pregnant and lactating mothers, landless, slum-dwellers and tribal communities. Further measures concern sanitation facilities and access to safe drinking water will be improved.
Further the document aims at making agriculture more productive and sustainable. Special attention is given to biodiversity conservation, particularly as regards wetlands, forests and coasts. An appropriate environmental management system for sustainable development will be promoted. Special attention will be given to multi-purpose trees to increase the productivity of forest lands. Existing scattered and denuded hill forests will be replanted.
The plan aims at eradicating rural poverty. Farm incomes will be increased through better productivity. The access of the poor to production inputs such as fertilizers, seed, irrigation water and rural roads will be enhanced. Social protection programmes will be strengthened. As regards employment opportunities, they will be supported by small rural enterprises. Special regard is given to rural women and their participation in production activities, as well as in the contribution to food security.
In addition, the plan aims at enabling more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. This includes supporting small and dium enteprises, partnerships and cooperation between the private and public sector, empowerment of women.
A comprehensive environmental management system will be promoted as regards mitigation and adaptation to climate change. A National Environment Fund will be established to provide assistance to victims of environmental disasters. Initiatives will be promoted to be implement Clean Development Mechanism and REDD.
A Climate Change Unit and a National Disaster Management Information Center will be established.