Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP)/Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas (People’s Plan Campaign) - 2021

Panchayats have a significant role to play in the effective and efficient implementation of flagship schemes and programmes on subjects of National Importance for transformation of rural India.

People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) 2021

• It is a joint initiative of Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Rural Development.
• The People’s Plan Campaign is an effective strategy for ensuring the preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) in a campaign mode. PPC 2021 will be rolled out as ‘Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas’ from 2ndOctober 2021 to 31st January 2022. During the campaign, structured Gram Sabha meetings will be held for preparing the GPDP for the next financial year.
• It makes the provision of 73rd Amendment Act compulsory which states that gram panchayats must prepare plans for economic development and social justice utilizing the resources available to them.

Objectives of PPC 2020

The main objectives of PPC are:

• Evidence Based Assessment of Progress made during previous years
• Structured Gram Sabha meetings spread over 2nd October 2021 to 31st January 2022 having the presence of and presentation by frontline workers/Supervisors of all 29 Sectors in XI Schedule
• Strengthening role of about 31 lakh Elected Representatives (ERs) and 5.25 Crore Self-Help Groups (SHGs) women under DAY-NRLM.
• Public Information Campaign – Full public disclosure on Schemes, Finances, etc. of all schemes & programmes in Gram Panchayat Office and on Gram Samvaad Application.

Issues/Challenges with GPDP –

• Poor planning skills of PRIs.
• No specialized cadre at local level to assist PRIs, which makes them dependent on central and state officials.
• No separate budget assigned for planning.

Suggestions

• A separate dedicated cadre at district level like IAS must be formed to ensure professional assistance.
• Capacity building of PRIs must be done via educating them with different planning models etc.
• States must devolve legislative powers to PRIs.
• The GPDP planning process has to be comprehensive and based on participatory process which involves full convergence with schemes of all related Central Ministries/Line Departments related to 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.