LSG and Decentralised Planning

Performance under Special Sector Plans

Women Component Plan and plan for disadvantaged groups (aged, children, differently abled, palliative and other vulnerability) in the plan of local governments is one of the salient features in Kerala’s decentralisation. The expenditure on WCP is slightly lower than the overall LSGI plan expenditure and the urban local bodies lagging behind their rural counterparts. Out of the total plan size, local governments have to set apart the mandatory provision of 10 per cent for women development and 5 per cent for disadvantaged groups. In the case of special programme for Women Component Plan and children the expenditure was 72 per cent and 86 per cent respectively. During 2015-16 review period an amount of 42.79 crore and 168.13 crore were set apart for palliative care and other vulnerability groups. The percentage of expenditure in palliative care is 91 per cent during 2015-16, which is slightly higher than that of 2014-15. Details of allocation and expenditure during 2015-16 are given in Table 8.8 and the figures in 2014-15 & 2015-16 are given in Appendix 8.7a and Appendix Appendix 8.7b.

Table 8.8
Allocation and expenditure of Special Sector Plan for 2015-16, in crore

Source: Information Kerala Mission, 2016

Strengthening of District Planning Machinery

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act mandated the establishment of the District Planning Committee (DPC) for consolidating plans prepared by panchayats and municipalities in the district into the form of a Draft District Plan. District Planning Committee, has been created as per article 243ZD of the Constitution of India at the district level for planning at district and below. The district planning in the practice of decentralised planning for a balanced, integrated and meaningful development of district has been an accepted concept since the beginning of the planning era. Accordingly, District Planning Committees were constituted in all the fourteen districts in accordance with the spirit of the 74th amendment of the constitution so that they can play the nodal role in plan preparation by LGs, approval of local plans, providing suggestions to LGs, monitoring of plan implementation etc. and their integration at district level as also their linkages with the state plan. The DPC consists of 15 members headed by the District Panchayat President and District Collector is the Member Secretary. All MPs and MLAs are permanent invitees of DPC and all the district level officers are ex-officio Joint Secretaries. The DPCs are fully functional in the State. The District Planning Officer, Joint Secretary (Co-ordination) assist the Member Secretary in convening meetings, preparation of agenda, minutes and all other secretarial duties. The constitution of DPC has been done every five years without fail in the State along with the election to the Local Governments.

The construction of DPC buildings have been completed at Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kasaragod, Wayanad, Kannur and Alappuzha . In the other districts the work is at various stages of completion. The construction of the DPC secretariat building will be a landmark in the history of decentralized planning in Kerala, as it will help to formulate a comprehensive and holistic district development plan for each district.

Decentralised planning process has been the core strength of the state.The two decades of Kerala’s decentralization experience is unique and recognized world over. It may be observed that decentralization has made its impact on local level planning , economic development and social justice. Transparency, accountability and participation are the most important guiding and defining principles of democratic governance. Of the three, ‘participation’ is central to real democracy and the innovative initiatives to organize people’s participation in the state through different organizational set ups have been appreciated widely. During the 13th FYP State Government envisages revitalisation of the system of democratic planning from below. The 13th FYP aims at reorganisation of local self government institutions by giving more emphasis on debureaucratisation of planning process, local economic development, improved institutional service delivery, preparation of District Plan by integrating local plans and ensuring the involvement of people, professionals and research educational institutions.