Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 2 (EMN): The People's Plan Campaign (PPC) on Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) commencement programme was held at the directorate of Rural Development (RD) in Kohima on Saturday, coinciding with the celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.
The PPC, which started on October 2, will conclude on January 31, 2022.
Speaking during the occasion, Neposo Theluo, commissioner and secretary of RD, said it was befitting to launch the campaign for preparation of GPDP on the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as the Father of the Nation "believed that whole power should be given to the Gram Panchayat in the country" for progress.
Since the inception of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) programme, he said October 2 had been chosen as Rozgar Diwas -- the day in which the process for preparation of the Labour budget started.
Theluo said the concept of PPC has evolved since the Ministry of Panchayati Raj conceived it in 2018 to ensure an effective strategy for preparation of GPDP on the theme "Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas".
He informed that the PPC had been launched for the fourth time in the state for their annual action plan. He reminded that PPC was not only for preparation of RD schemes but also intended to cover all 29 subjects being listed to be implemented.
Theluo reiterated that GPDP is to incorporate all the schemes being implemented by 18-19 line departments like departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil and Water Conservation, Power, Education, Social Welfare, etc.
The purpose of PPC, he informed, was to come up with a comprehensive plan based on participatory process involving convergence with schemes of all related line departments. "This would check duplication of schemes under various programmes and ensure transparency," he said.
The official added that GPDP would incorporate all schemes implemented by the line departments but the schemes would be implemented by respective line departments.
"Today, we cannot think of any department to work in isolation but we need to plan together and converge our schemes to create durable assets or to bring about development in a holistic approach," he said.
Theluo also maintained that the government of India has recognised village council as equivalent to gram panchayat and all funds are given to village development board (VDB).
He informed that they had a state-level meeting with the chief secretary on September 7 and a message has reached the Nagaland Commissioner and administration to pass on necessary instructions to the district officers to give their co-operation for successful preparation of GPDP.
Liboni Humtsoe, director of RD, announced that under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM), they had procured four waste disposal vehicles for the four khels of Kohima village while one vehicle each for Chedema Model village and another for Chedema village for trade and marketing purposes.
The four waste disposal and two goods transportation vehicles for Kohima Sadar Phase III, were also flagged off at the same event.
Vilopi Angami and Sentiyatet Jamir gave a detailed presentation about PPC and SPMRM, while Hielievio Solo, chairman of Kohima village, thanked the department for 'bringing development and increasing economic activities in the villages through income-generating schemes'.