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.