The Hindu : National : ``A new concept will inform future Plans''

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Friday, Jun 16, 2006

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National

``A new concept will inform future Plans''

Staff Reporter

Needs at village level will be considered: Mani Shankar Aiyar

SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS: Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a national conference on Panchayati Raj in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. — Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

BHUBANESWAR: In a clear deviation from the past practices, the 11th Five Year Plan will be drawn up keeping in view the requirements of the people at the village level, Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said here on Thursday.

Addressing the opening session of a two-day meeting of the Panchayati Raj Ministers, Mr. Aiyar said so far experts were drawing up development plans sitting at Yojana Bhavan in New Delhi.

But the approach will change and the country will now see formulation of the Five Year Plan on `Dehat to Delhi' (village to Delhi) concept, he said.

The Minister called upon the State governments to complete the activity mapping of the Panchayati Raj institutions within a few weeks, and also initiate measures to constitute District Planning Committees and creation of Panchayat Window in the State budget.

Each State will prepare its development plans on the basis of plans consolidated by the District Development Committees and submit the same before the finalisation of the 11th Five Year Plan in March next year, Mr. Aiyar said.

The District Development Committees, comprising representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions, Zilla Parishad members and experts, will consolidate the district development plan taking into account the requirements at Panchayat level, Mr. Aiyar said. The Gram Sabhas should decide on the future development needs of the villages.

Citing the example of Kerala and Sikkim where the Panchayati Raj system had been strengthened in a big way, Mr. Aiyar said only a strong and effective Panchayati Raj system can ensure a strong State and finally a strong nation.

The Minister urged the Panchayati Raj and Planning Ministers of different States and State Planning Boards to join hands to make the Panchayati Raj system more effective to ensure development at the village level.

Speaking on the occasion, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik outlined the initiatives that had been taken by his government to strengthen the Panchayati Raj institutions in the State.

The two-day meeting of the Panchayati Raj Ministers will review the progress made so far and the future strategy about Panchayati Raj.

Panchayati Raj Ministers from several States, officials from the Union Panchayati Raj Ministry and Planning Commission members are participating in the deliberations.

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