PM stresses on strengthening of local governments

NI Wire

New Delhi

Fri, 16 Jan 2009: 

With the sole purpose of reinforcing grass root level governance in the country and prepare a plan to modify the rural face of India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the conference of chairpersons of district planning committees in New Delhi Friday.

The prime minister said the most vital issuesefore the country are to meet the challenge of reducing inequity and inequality and Panchayati Raj institutions need to focus on it.

This apart, Dr. Singh added, we should also focus on key issues that are essential for human growth and well being, including combating of disease, eliminating malnutrition, particularly among our women and children, providing safe drinking water, good quality universal education, providing people with skills and employment opportunities and preserving and protecting our environment.

Dr. Singh said the district level plans are being prepare and funded for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the National Rural Health Mission as well as for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP). Similarly in the urban areas, under JNNURM, 63 cities have evolved medium term development plans for the cities and have been supported with Central Government funds.

We need to continue this process and programmes and extend it to cover programmes like Rural Water Supply and others, Dr. Singh exhorted.

The prime minister asserted development of strong local government system from the gram sabha to the intermediate and district panchayats will be fruitful for addressing these issues; and finally the District Planning Committees require to consolidate the urban and rural plans into draft development plans for the district as a whole.

Underlining immense resources made available at the village level, Dr. Singh said the pressure is now on local governments and administrations to perform. He, however, pressed the elected representatives in the local institutions should be equipped through training to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Planning Commission have prepared a blueprint that forms the basis of the guidelines for the Backward Regions Grant Fund that now operates in 250 poorer districts and provides. It aims at embedding the participatory planning process and provides untied funds to local governments for filling gaps in flagship programmes based on local needs.

Calling for the interaction among the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Planning Commission and the Ministry of Urban Development becomes an annual feature, the prime minister said that inclusive growth, which is the motto of the 11th five year plan, can be achieved only through inclusive governance through Panchayati Raj system.