LOK SABHA
GRAM PANCHAYAT DEVELOPMENT PLAN (GPDP)
1502. SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:-
(a) whether any step has been taken to improve the role of the Panchayats and localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is a proposal to merge Village Poverty Reduction Plan (VPRP) with Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP); and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
(SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been providing programmatic support to States for strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) so as to enable them to discharge their mandated duties effectively and efficiently. Further, the Ministry envisages to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through implementation Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme which mandates to capacitate elected representatives and functionaries to deliver on SDGs through participatory local planning at the Gram Panchayat level.
To take forward Ministry’s vision of localizing SDGs in rural India, an Expert Group had been constituted for making recommendations on ‘Localization of SDGs through PRIs under the Chairpersonship of Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Senior Officers from Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Panchayati Raj Departments, National Institute for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), State Institute of Rural Developments (SIRDs) of some states and NITI Aayog. The Expert Group, after thorough deliberations, has submitted a detailed report with recommendations on the strategies and initiatives to be taken for localization of the SDGs at the grassroots level engaging PRIs and all relevant stakeholders in rural India. The report has been accepted by the Ministry.
(c) Yes, Sir.
(d) Under the People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) rolled out this year from 2nd October,2021 upto 31st January,2022 for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) for 2022-23 , Panchayats have been advised to mandatorily integrate the Village Poverty Reduction Plans (VPRPs) into GPDP.