NGOs may run Rs 13K cr govt plan………Neeraj Thakur
Plan panel to set criteria for their inclusion in IAP implementation process
Plan panel to set criteria for their inclusion in IAP implementation process
The Planning Commission may rope in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement its proposed Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for development of Naxal-affected areas.
This was discussed in a meeting attended by NGOs on Monday.
“We are trying to form a new PPP model for rural India, where the private partnership will come from academic institutions, socially responsible corporate and civil society institutions”, said Mihir Shah, member Planning Commission for Rural development.
The IAP, being prepared by the Planning Commission, will require a budget of around Rs 13,000 crore.
That could spell a huge opportunity for the NGOs.
Institute of Rural management, Gram Vikas, Pradaan and Samaj Pragati Sahyog were among the NGOs present in the meeting.
The criteria for the NGOs to be included in the implementation of the government schemes will be decided by the Planning Commission.
The proposal for formulating IAP had come from the Cabinet committee on security. The package under the plan would be for a three-year period for infrastructure development in the Naxal-affected districts, like roads, drinking water and electrification.
The issue of Naxalism would also come up for discussion in the forthcoming meeting of the National Development Council, the country’s highest planning body, on July 24.
The commission is also looking at the possibility of implementing the PESA (Panchayats Extension to Schedule Areas) Act, 1996, to give tribals the right to use minor forest produce.
The special package for affected districts gains significance in the backdrop of the government’s flagship programmes, such as NREGA, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana and Bharat Nirman, not achieving much success.