Promoting Regional Equality Strategies in the 12th Five Year Plan

Challenges

• Inter-State Inequalities in per capita income have been rising

• Intra-State and Rural-Urban inequalities also an issue of concern

• While growth rates have been increasing, this is not reflected in improvements in income disparities

• Gap in Human Development Index (State level) has however decreased

Convergence of GDP Growth Rates during successive Plans

Interventions to tackle Regional Disparities

• Investments in less developed States

through Centrally Sponsored Schemes

using more favourable norms for

distribution of assistance

• Area Programmes

Area Programmes

• BRGF

- District Component

- State Component

�Special Plans for Bihar, West Bengal and KBK districts

�Drought Mitigation Package for Bundelkhand region

� IAP for Selected Tribal and Backward Districts

Area Programmes (contd)

• Hill Area Development

Programme/Western Ghats Development

Programme

• Border Area Development Programme

Projected Outcomes

• Better Infrastructure in the less developed areas including hill and border areas.

• Improvement in delivery system through active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions in planning, execution and monitoring.

• Area Specific Targetting and untied funds to bridge critical gaps leading to narrowing of development divide between developed and less developed regions.

• Address disparities within the District.

Panchayati Raj

• Goal - to attain decentralised and participatory local self government through Panchayati Raj Institutions

• Objectives – empowerment, enablement and increased accountability of PRIs

• Challenges:

- Actual transfer of functions.

- Building capacity to make PRIs effective local governing bodies.

- Amendment of relevant Laws/Acts.

Projected Outcomes

• Progressive devolution of functions, functionaries and funds to PRIs

• Increased participation of women/other disadvantaged groups in decision making through Gram Sabhas and Panchayat Committees

• Implementation of PESA, 1996

• Developing strong PRIs.

• Institutionalising the role of DPCs in district planning.