ROURKELA: Five gram panchayats (GPs) of Tangarpali block in Sundargarh district and five GPs in Ganjam district have been taken up as pilot GPs for implementation of ‘GP Minimalistic Plan’ under the aegis of NITI Aayog and UNDP.
It aims at empowering the respective GPs to achieve maximum outcome from development projects at the micro-level with better planning and people’s participation. Sundargarh-based Deputy Director (Planning & Statistic) Srikanta Dalabehera said Tangarpali, Mahulpali, Ujjalpur, Gambharidhi and Tasladihi GPs of Tangarpali block have been taken up as pilot GPs for the GP Minimalistic Plan.
He hoped to complete convening of Special Gram Sabha meetings for all GPs by the end of April. He said from 2015-16 direct funds flow has started to GPs and the proposed Special Gram Sabha meetings aim to take approval of project proposals for 2016-17 and 2017-18 considering funding pattern of State Finance Commission, 14th Finance Commission, own resources of the GPs and other sources.
Citing example of Tangarpali GP, he said after social assessment, projects worth about `2 crore have been proposed for four villages of the GP which cover rural communication, asset creation, irrigation, education and housing. Previously, various Government departments and agencies used to take up development projects at the village and GP levels and it was very difficult to monitor fund flow, expenditure and project progress.
Sundargarh Collector Bhupendra Singh Poonia said it would strengthen the local institutions of self-governance.