The Ninth Five Year Plan recognised the integral link between rapid economic growth and the quality of life of the mass of the people. Ensuring environmental sustainability of the development process through social mobilisation and participation of people at all level was one of the specific objectives of the Ninth Plan as approved by the National Development Council. In the Ninth Plan document,policies and programmes during the Eighth Plan period were reviewed, shortcomings identified and new policy framework suggested overcoming the shortcomings and ensuring sustainability of the development process not only in economic terms but also in terms of social and environmental factors.