Why has District Planning been marginalized in many States and remained prominent in a few States? Explain.

[PUB AD- Answer writing]

UPSC Mains 2015

[McGregor]

Fayol has defined Planning as the heart of the organization. The failure of top down centralized plaaning led to promotiion of bottom up decentralized planning involving local self governance in the planning porcess. Inspite of 25 years of enactment the district planning has still not taken deep roots into indian society.

Challenges in District Planning 

1. As per Article 243ZD, District planning committee has to be constituted in every district. As per PRIA study , Several states like Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab Assam are yet to constitute it .Moreover, in states like Manipur they are constituted in 4 districts out of 20.

2. Politicization of DPCs due to participation of MPs and MLAs.

3. Meetings are held infrquently 

4. There is no separate budgetary allocation for individual districts.

5. Merely a talkshop with no ppower to take follow up actions 

6. Participation of local government is minimal due to bureaucratic attidtide of elitism over local representatives 

7. Absence of capacity among local planners to develop credible plans. In states like West bengal strong technical advisory groups have improved the local plans. 

Thus, overhauling the District planning requires KERELA model to be implemented in tailored manner through out the India where in District statistical office provides requisite data for planning, there are standing committees for local level planning , Expert committee for renderign technical advice, town planning office at District office.