BENGALURU: Karnataka is all set to take another major step in decentralisation of power and grassroots planning with the launch of a planning system at the Gram Panchayat-level by October 2.
The task force headed by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil, constituted to implement the constitutional commitment of setting up GP and district-level planning committees, which met here on Tuesday, dwelt at length about putting in place a system for GP-level planning.
Panchayat Raj secretary to the Union government, Vijay Anand, who has rich experience in implementing planning systems from gram panchayats to zilla panchayats in Kerala, made a detailed presentation and shared his experience at the meeting.
The recently-concluded caste and education survey, Human Development Index survey and other databases will be used for preparing the baseline data at the village-level before the planning process is launched.
Gram sabhas and ward sabhas under each GP will gain greater significance with the implementation of the planning system, Minister Patil told reporters after the meeting.
He expressed confidence that the entire process will be completed in the next three months. The new system will enable better prioritisation of available funds according to the needs of each GP as the representatives at the village-level will plan the works and allocate funds, Patil said.
Training for GP Members
Patil said a massive training programme for at least 95,000 newly-elected gram panchayat members will be taken up soon, and the entire process will be completed within six months.
