In an effort aimed at holistic rural development, the director of local administration, project director of the DRDA, the block development officers and commune commissioners were brought on a single platform at a meeting in the Raj Nivas on Saturday.
According to a press release, the purpose of the meeting was to bring about convergence of local administration and rural development and work together for the prosperity of rural Puducherry.
Ms. Bedi said that commune commissioners from Puducherry and Karaikal should have a clear understanding of the various schemes and their legal responsibilities and obligations to discharge their role as leaders in rural areas.
“Coming together provides an opportunity to share issues and challenges and learn good practices,” she said.
P.T. Rudra Goud, director of DRDA, gave a brief presentation on the various schemes, the components and functions.
He said that unlike in full-fledged states, where rural development and panchayat raj were with zilla panchayats, in Puducherry, it remained bifurcated and fragmented. For better delivery of services there was a necessity of convergence with a clear plan of overcoming deficiencies.
Mr. Goud asked the officers to be well aware of the schemes. He said officers need to know the contours of the scheme, the purpose and modalities so as to effectively implement it.
A feedback was also taken from the commissioners during the meeting which brought to fore the necessity for further training the officers of commune panchayats and the blocks.
Shivraj Singh Meena, project executive officer of the DRDA presented a convergence plan that conceptualised Gram Panchayat Groups (GPG).
The GPG would be a revolutionary step where field level staff of block development office, the commune panchayat, agriculture, electricity, PWD, police, health, education working in each village panchayat would be identified and formed into a composite group to be led by the commissioner of the commune panchayat.
The GPG representatives from key government departments would meet at the community building of the village. The GPG would be a bottom up approach of work towards strengthening rural Puducherry.
It would also hold interaction with the villages and identify the issues.
Ms. Bedi said the director, rural development, would communicate to the officers on the various schemes to make themselves aware of all details. The commissioners would form the GPG and visit one village a day to meet the group members.
A second convergence meeting would be held on June 16 where they would share their experiences and ideas to further strengthen and work for a prosperous and smart rural Puducherry, she added.
