New Delhi: Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, underscored the urgent need for a shift toward thematic and quality-focused planning at the village level.
Shri Lohani was speaking in a two-day National Workshop organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on the Preparation of Panchayat Development Plans was inaugurated today in New Delhi. The inaugural session also witnessed the launch of the People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) booklet for Preparation of Panchayat Development Plan (2026-27), the Report of the Committee on Enhancing the Quality of Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and the revamped eGramSwaraj planning portal.
Shri Lohani said that this workshop aims to strengthen participatory planning and improve the quality of Panchayat development plans, making them more effective, inclusive, and outcome-oriented. The workshop has brought together senior officials from Central Ministries, representatives from Panchayati Raj Departments and SIRD&PRs, Panchayat functionaries and other key stakeholders from across the country.
He observed that the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) remains the most powerful tool for decentralized governance, but its success depends on moving beyond routine paperwork to achieve genuine quality outcomes.
Shri Lohani highlighted a significant 84 percent increase in allocations to Rural Local Bodies under the 16th Finance Commission for the 2026-31 period. However, he cautioned that these Central grants should be viewed as supplementary resources and are not intended to replace flows from State Finance Commissions or the Own Source Revenue of the Panchayats themselves.
The Additional Secretary described the GPDP as a vital tool for decentralized planning, noting that the focus has now shifted toward quality outcomes. This new direction will be guided by 15 specific indicators developed by the Committee on Enhancing the Quality of GPDP. To support this transition, Shri Lohani called for a renewed and intensive emphasis on training for Panchayat functionaries, ensuring they are equipped to handle the complexities of evidence-based planning and digital integration.
The session also saw the launch of the People’s Plan Campaign booklet for 2026-27 and a revamped eGramSwaraj portal, which Shri Lohani noted would be essential in streamlining the preparation of high-quality development plans across the country.