NEW DELHI, 11 Apr: Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (PR) & Rural Development Minister Bamang Felix informed that the localisation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Arunachal Pradesh has already entered its implementation phase and is being backed by the SDG-based state annual budget 2022-23.
The minister was speaking at the National Stakeholders’ Conference on Localisation of SDGs, which commenced
at the Vigyan Bhavan here on Monday.
The weeklong event is being organised by the union panchayati raj ministry as ‘Iconic Week’, under the central government’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign. PR ministers of 12 states, along with panchayat leaders and officials are taking part in the event.
Felix informed also that devolution of powers under the SPICE model to the PRIs in Arunachal “has been delegated, along with allocation of 10 percent of the revenue from state-owned resources to the PRIs, so that they identify and prepare budgets according to their needs and requirements.”
Informing that several central flagship schemes like the PMAY (G) are already being implemented in villages across Arunachal but could not be updated due to mobile connectivity issue, the minister said that “the matter will be resolved soon as installation of 900 already sanctioned telecom towers will commence shortly.”
Highlighting the challenges in implementing central flagship schemes, Felix sought “consideration of the limited working seasons in Arunachal Pradesh for disbursement of central funds against various central flagship schemes.”
Informing that Arunachal has only four to five months of work season due to its climatic conditions, Felix said, “Disbursement of central funds during off seasons and uniform model of flagship programmes poses as a challenge in implementation of various schemes.”
The minister invited officials of the union ministry to visit Arunachal “to assess the ground reality of implementation exercises and its challenges, and to advice on works being undertaken and challenges to be met in accordance to the short working months in a year.”
Felix was accompanied by panchayat leaders Chukhu Bablu, Likha Sang Chhore and Charu Menia, Panchayati Raj Deputy Director (RE) Nabam Rajesh and SIRD&PR Assistant Director SW Bagang.
Earlier, addressing the inaugural ceremony, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu emphasised on striving for a vibrant panchayati raj system with special focus on three ‘Fs’: fund, functioning and functionaries.
He called for active participation of people at the grassroots level for the success of any developmental initiative.
Stating that “India cannot develop without the development of rural India,” Naidu called for giving special impetus to women empowerment, connectivity, transportation, electricity, clear drinking water, education, and entertainment in the villages.
Union Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh highlighted the nine themes identified for gram panchayats, which include “poverty-free and enhanced livelihoods village, healthy village, child-friendly village, water sufficient village, clean and green village, self-sufficient infrastructure in village, socially secured village, village with good governance, and engendered development in village.”
He called for ensuring transparency and accountability in the functioning of the panchayats, and stressed the need to prepare a master plan for the panchayats with the help of technology.
