Dharwad dist tries Kerala-like rural devpt

Hubballi: The Dharwad zilla panchayat has implemented a participatory planning system akin to a Kerala government policy with the intention of bringing people closer to gram panchayats and making them take part the development of their villages.
The scheme jhas been launched in the Yadwad gram as a pilot. The plan will be for five years. By organising group discussions, participatory rural appraisal and other activities, people can prepare plans for the next five years for their village.
Suresh Itnal, the CEO of the zilla panchayat, said that the intention waqs to achieve sustainable goals.
People can finalise development work according to their needs. First, all departments will collect data including resources and government funds according to certain parameters. Later, based on the statistics and data, the villagers will decide on the development work, Itnal said.
"Currently in the Yadwad gram panchayat, the perspective planning system has been implemented and in other gram panchayats the same system will be brought. For this, there is a training programme on for the gram panchayat president, vice-president, PDO and for others. By the end of January, in all 141 gram panchayats, the perspective planning system will be implemented,” Itnal said.
According to sources in the zilla panchayat, the perspective planning system will help in better utilisation of development funds. With the new planning system, each department will get attention and develop properly, sources said.
RG Chalawadi, the PDO of the Yadwad gram panchayat, said that because the panchayat selected for the pilot project, everyone in Yadwad worked with great zeal. The gram panchayat president, Parvati Hiremath, along with other elected members took it as a challenge and prepared a plan for five years consulting all the people in the village. “In the village, people suggested the overall development of education and health, for which a plan was prepared. The plan was presented before the ward sabha and gram sabha for approval,” she said.