The Government is again to start consultation process among masses by going to villages from October 19 to October 31 to strengthen Gram Panchayat and to help them come up with plans for next 15 years in accordance with their local needs. The village Panchayats will hold special Gram Sabhas for two days to brainstorm for 15 year's plan, among which the Government will handpick some most promising ones to be completed in the next three years.
"The programme named as 'Hamari Yojna Hamara Vikas' ready to be kicked off by CM Raghubar Das from littipada Block in Pakur on October 19. Ministers, Chief Secretary, other Secretaries, DCs and other officials would be visiting villages across State between October 19 and 31 as per their convenience, and sit with villagers to come up with 15 year plan. We will pick up seven year plan among them as per priority. Finally, a three year concerted plan for Panchayats according to their local needs would come for execution," said Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda on Sunday.
While addressing a Press conference, Munda said that issues like food security, health and nutrition, social security, housing and infrastructure, women and children welfare, drinking water and sanitation, agriculture, land reforms and micro irrigation, animal husbandry, education and skill development and many others were of core importance at village and Panchayat level. All these issues would be at the epicenter of discussion while making 15 year plan by Gram Sabha.
As per plan, village Panchayats will have meeting of Gram Sabha on the first day to discuss long term vision and goals for the next 15 years. On the second consecutive day, the Panchayats will table possible and discuss plans to be carried out for their overall development.
A detailed report of plans to be carried out will be worked out in consultation with Panchayats on November 3.
"Village Panchayats are seen extremely proactive towards attaining sustainable development goals set by United Nations Organisation (UNO). These goals, total 11 in number this time, include drinking water and sanitation, poverty eradication, quality education for all, gender equality, health and nutrition among others," said Munda where MGNREGA Commissioner, Welfare Department Secretary and many other officials were also present.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department has already gone through a review meeting of resources available with Panchayats and their distribution to villages on October 14 in every Panchayat. Next two days, October 15 and 16 have been devoted in public awareness programmes for Panchayat meeting, so that maximum participation of villagers could be ensured.
Munda said that fund availability was not a constraint for rural development, as a sum of Rs 1,100 crore had already been released so far this year. Citing example of Dova constructed across the state, he said that a similar two year plan carried out last year bore extremely encouraging fruits. On the questions of dova death, MGNREGA Commissioner said that next phase of dova construction would comprise of preventive measures in terms of dova death.
IPRD PC -2 : Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda during a press conference at Suchna Bhawan in Ranchi on Sunday. Pix by Vinay Murmu