District planning in India
District is the most suitable administrative unit for decentralized planning below the state level as it possesses the required heterogeneity and is small enough to undertake people in planning and implementation and to improve productivity; district planning is an important tool.
With the 73rd and 74th amendments[1] of the Constitution of India, decentralization of planning is emphasized and the methodology of district plan was changed. The approach suggested for the preparation of the district plan is as follows:-.[2]
Steps in district planning[edit]
The sequence in the preparation of district plan can be as follows
- Preparation of district vision, block vision and gram panchayat level vision.
- Preparation of participatory plan involving Gram Sabha from Gram Panchayats to Zilla Parishad.
- Preparation of plans by Urban Local Bodies.
- Consolidation of plans prepared by local bodies by District Planning Committees.
Planning starts with the preparation of vision documents by local bodies.[3]