While India has progressed rapidly on many fronts, a large segment of our population is still relatively untouched by its benefits. This is particularly true of those living in some regions which have not been able to keep pace with other advanced regions. The backwardness of these regions is a result of many factors but this is so mainly because of their poor infrastructure such as roads, communications, irrigation, schools and healthcare facilities. The focus has been particularly on the aam aadmi and the policies are designed for the benefit of common people, men and women. The removal of this regional imbalance is therefore, an important commitment. The launch of the Backward Regions Grant Fund is a major initiative, in ensuring that regional disparities in development are bridged and backward regions such as Barpeta catch up with the rest of the country.
INITIAL STAGE
250 districts are being taken up in the country under the Backward Regions Grant Fund. Rs.3,750 crores has been provided to the Backward Regions Grant Fund for the coming year. Each district will get an additional Rs. 10 to 15 crore annually exclusively for developing infrastructure and filling gaps in development programmes. In Assam, eleven districts have been taken up under this new programme. These are Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Goalpara, Hailakhandi, Marigaon, Dhemaji, Karbi Anglong, Kokrajhar, North Cachar Hills and North Lakhimpur.
UNIQUE FEATURES
The Backward Regions Grant Fund has two unique features which will possibly make it a far more effective programme. Firstly, it will be implemented totally through Panchayati Raj institutions. This is a radical departure from the past. It will be implemented through district plans which are prepared at the grassroots with the active participation at the Gram Panchayat level, the Block Panchayat level and the Zila Panchayat level. Backward regions of India can only develop when their genuine needs are assessed by the people themselves residing in those areas, prioritised and plans prepared by them together with the assistance of professional experts. This is a programme which will reflect genuine needs and will seek to address them through projects which are designed by the people. In this manner, the vision of Mahatma Gandhi for self reliance through Gram Swaraj will be realized also the tireless efforts of Shri Rajiv Gandhi to restore Panchayati Raj to the center of the planning process.
Secondly, the basis for programmes under the Backward Regions Grant Fund is the District Plan. This Plan would be a well conceived plan prepared in a participatory manner. The District Plan would be put together by District Planning Committees constituted in each district which will also integrate plans of rural and urban local bodies. Its funds would be used for promoting development in backward areas by providing infrastructure, promoting sustainable livelihoods and converging development inflows.
EFFORTS NEEDED
While this new programme holds a lot of promise, it would also require a great deal of effort from all concerned. Panchayati Raj functionaries – Sarpanches, Pradhans, Zila Panchayat Presidents – each and every one of them will have to play an active role in its effective planning and implementation. They need to be effectively involved and to be given the capacity to perform this huge task. There are more than 26 lakh elected representatives in the panchayats of our country of which a third are women. They can play a vital role in national development.
It is also heartening to see that there is a parallel investment in building local community capacities by promoting the training of “barefoot engineers”, “community- level agricultural extension workers” and local level specialists who can be of direct utility in each panchayat. India is still an agricultural nation where a majority of the people depends on agriculture for sustenance. This is even more so in Assam and Barpeta. A programme is needed whereby people acquire skills which are of use in local activities and which enable them to be less dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. Over a period of time, as more and more people get trained under this programme, there will be large numbers of skilled workers securing better incomes through new vocations.
ASSAM EXPANSION
Over the last three years, all efforts have been made to improve the economic conditions of the people of Assam. For the first time in many years, a massive thermal power project is underway in Bongaigaon. A huge expansion of coal mines is going on in Ledo in Tinsukia. Special road programmes have been sanctioned for Assam and the North East. Railway lines are being converted to broad gauge and are being doubled wherever necessary. New bridges are being built.
Apart from the Backward Regions Grant Fund, the Central Government is providing support and a large amount of funds for education, healthcare, rural roads, irrigation, rural electrification and drinking water.
A MAJOR BEGINNING
A major beginning has been made moving away from Central and State-level planning to district-based planning. It is a radical shift of power away from the Central and State capitals to districts and villages. This task is not going to be simple. But its success is certain because it reposes faith in the ability of every Indian to contribute to the development efforts. Sixty years back, the Mahatma led the Nation in freedom struggle with the very simple weapon of ahimsa. Indeed, his approach was effective because it was based on a leap of faith – a belief that each individual, however humble his standing, craved self-respect and freedom. It is the same spirit that must guide the country now. There is need to take that leap of faith once more and believe that people together, wherever they are can move together to change the country. With the Backward Regions Grant Fund the prime responsibility of local development has been entrusted to those vitally affected by it, the people themselves. This will be a tremendous learning experience for all deeply committed to bringing prosperity to every Indian.
* Adaptation from the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s speech on February 19, 2007 at the launch of the Backward Regions Grant Fund at Barpeta, Assam.
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