Socialism or State Capitalism

H K Paranjape ONE of the curiosities of the Approach document is that it speaks about the "establishment of a fully democratic and socialist society" having been accepted as "the only means for the realisation of these goals" (emphasis added). The "socialist society" is thus not a goal but merely a means, the goals being "consolidation of the demo, cratic political order, prevention of concentration of economic power, reduction of disparities in income and wealth, attainment of balanced regional development, and spread of the institutions, values and attitudes of a free and just society". The Fifth Plan, it is stated," must take the country another major step forward along the chosen course". Overlooking the inconsistency between the establishment of a fully democratic society being a means as well as a goal, one should expect that the Approach would at the least specifically indicate how the country would move along the socialist path in whatever limited way during the Plan period. Such a hope however is belied.