State Planning Board is the apex organisation under guidance of which the Development & Planning Department carries out activities on Plan formulation and Plan Monitoring.      The State Planning Board issues investment clearance in respect of all Plan schemes taken up by different State Government Departments which involve cost estimate of Rs. 1.0 Crore or more.Annual Plan of the State for 2006-2007 has been finalised under guidance of the State Planning Board and in consultation with other Departments of the State Government.      The State Planning Board, in collaboration with Planning Commission, Government of India took up preparation of State Development Report. The Draft Report had been submitted to Planning Commission. The Report would provide an analysis of different sectors of the State’s economy and will try to project the emerging possibilities in the different sectors.      The State Planning Board in collaboration with Planning Commission of India and UNDP prepared and published the West Bengal Human Development Report (WBHDR) 2004 in May, 2004. The Report prepared through shared experiences and collective participation of a wide range of people and people’s representatives brought into sharp focus the areas where the State Government needs to give serious attention. The Report presented a mixed picture of human development of the State with significant achievements in different sectors as well as major concerns in a few areas. Hon’ble Members will also be happy to know that the Report has been widely acclaimed from various quarters and more significantly, it has been adjudged the best Report and awarded for excellence in quality of analysis by the U.N.D.P. This selection was made after considering 67 nominations from 40 countries around the globe.      The State Government has taken the initiatives to follow up the issues identified as major concerns and signed a tripartite MOU with Planning Commission and UNDP for a three-year project titled “ Strengthening State Plans for Human Development” with the objectives to a) build and strengthen capacity of state planners to provide a human development perspective     in the State Plan. b) Provide research and training services c) strengthen State statistical system. Implementation of the project has started in full swing.