BLOCK LEVEL

DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
AND IMPLEMENTATIONS

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Mrs. Tuhina Sinha
Ch.Dileep kumar
17011PA003
M.Tech 1St year 2nd sem
 CONTENTS

 History of decentralisation

 Introduction

 Block as a Planning unit

 Purpose of Block Level Planning

 Objectives

 Criteria for the selection of Blocks

 Planning Process

 Components Of Block Level Plan

 Distinct Agencies of implementations

 Advantages Of Block Level Planning

DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALIZATION

• Decentralisation means devolution of central authority among local units close to the
areas served.

• Where authority devolves by this process on people's institution, it is 'democratic

decentralisation’.
• The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, headed by MP Balwantrai Mehta, was a
committee appointed by the Government of India in January 1957 to examine the
work of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension
Service (1953), to suggest measures to improve their work.

• The committee's recommendation of the committee by NDC in January 1958, and this
set the stage for the launching of Panchayati Raj Institutions throughout the country.

• The committee recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘democratic

decentralization’, which finally came to be known as Panchayati Raj.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

PANCHAYAT RAJ

• This led to the establishment of a three-tier Panchayat Raj system:

Zila parishad

Panchayat samiti

Gram panchayat

• The State of Madras tried this as a pilot project as early as 1957. Based on the
success in this State it was Rajasthan which became the pioneer to bring the whole
state under democratic decentralisation on Oct. 2, 1959.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

INTRODUCTION

• Planning is carried out at various levels beginning from a small local area to as
large area as the world planning is an integral part of human progress and area
development.
• Block is group of several gram panchayats of rural area earmarked for
administration and development in India.
• The area is administered by a Block Development Officer
• Block planning, essentially, means planning for the development of the block
within a specified time frame – whether it is an annual, five year or even longer
period.
• Block level planning have to be conformity with National Planning.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

BLOCK AS PLANNING UNIT

• The range of planning functions at the block level is determined by the size of its

geographical limits & quantitative,qualitative appraisal of its human and material

resources.

• To demarcate the block-level planning canvass from that of the district and state level

functions.

• A variety of external aspects, inter-relations and inter-dependence with other area

levels have to be recognized.

• Block plans - District level planning

State level planning

Sub units- Clusters of Villages with in the block.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

PANCHAYAT SAMITHI
The Panchayat Samithi or Panchayat Union: This is the second tier of the administration at
Block level. It consists of Panchayat Union Chairman, presidents of all panchayats in the
area, local MPTCs, MPDO etc., with the right to vote, but not to hold office and nominated
persons. Reservation and cooperation are given for women, SCs and STs and persons with
experience in administration and public life.
Block Development Officer is appointed by the Government. He functions as the leader of
the Block.
Functions
1. It has to instill among people within its jurisdiction a spirit of self-help and initiative to
work for raising the standard of living;
2. It has to support for the implementation of development programs;
3. It has the welfare and development activities in the fields of agriculture, animal
husbandry, health, sanitation, elementary education and cottage industries etc
4. It has to use the village housing project funds and loans.
BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING
PURPOSE OF BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

• The main purpose of Block-level planning is to accelerate the process of

decentralization.

• To improve it qualitatively in the sense of making it more responsive to the needs of the

weaker sections of the community.

• To understand more clearly the felt needs of the people and factors inhibiting the uplift

of the weaker sections.

• As certain area (block) specific physical and human resource potential.

• To identify constraints inhibiting socio-economic and technological growth.

• Expand the area of people’s participation in the preparation and implementation of

plans.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

OBJECTIVES

• Optimum Utilization of the area leading to increase in income and employment.

• Ensuring that a larger than proportionate gains of development accrue to the weaker
sections of the population-Small and Marginal farmers, share –croppers, Agricultural
labourers, Rural artisans etc.
• Fulfilment of the minimum need Programme.
• Building up of Social and Economic Infrastructure.
• Reorienting the existing institutions/organizations in order to protect the interests of
the poor.
• Building up of appropriate organizations of the poor especially to protect them from
exploitation.
• Alleviating residual unemployment through employment on Public works.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF BLOCKS

• Every district in the country which does not have any special programme.

• Blocks with more than 20 percent scheduled caste population should be covered first.

• Higher incidence of unemployment and underemployment might be kept in view.

• Potentiality for development and organizational frame work that has been built up.

• Low agricultural productivity.

• Low consumption level and preponderance of people below poverty line.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

PLANNING PROCESS AT THE BLOCK LEVEL

The block plan comprises two parts.

• One is a perspective plan, which has a long term outlook. This plan indicates the scope
of development of different sectors in the area over a longer time span. In other words,
it gives the potentiality for development in different sectors.
• The second is the annual plan, which is derived from the Five Year Plan and the
perspective plan.
Formulation of Perspective Plan
• The objective of perspective planning is to set up a logical and consistent set of inter-
related targets for the accepted objectives of development.
• It is designed on the basis of existing knowledge and experience, but looks ahead in
time for ten to fifteen years.
• The perspective plan of the block has to be within the framework of the perspective
plan of the district.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

PLANNING PROCESS AT THE BLOCK LEVEL

Preparation of Resource Inventory

This is the most crucial step in the formation of a plan. If this exercise is carried
out rationally, the programme can be implemented successfully. For the preparation
of a resource inventory, status of the following is required:
• Natural resources, such as land, water, vegetation, and human and bovine
resources;
• Activities like agriculture and allied sector industries;
• Social service and institutional facilities like health, education, sanitation and
water supply, banking, etc; And infrastructural facilities like roads and
electricity.
For all these categories , we require specific information. These are:
• Type
• Location/distribution
• Quantity/extent/number
• Quality
• Level of utilization
• Potentiality for future development
• Problems and constraints

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

PLANNING PROCESS AT THE BLOCK LEVEL

Annual Block Plan

• The Annual Block Plan is linked to the annual district plan and indicates the priority
area, the schemes to be implemented (both new and ongoing schemes), the outlays,
and the targets.
• The horizontal and vertical linkages of programmes envisaged at the block level for
the year.
• Block planning exercises should involve non-officials, nongovernmental
organizations, professional groups and the people’s representatives.
• Schemes of the Central and State governments, which are received for
implementation in the block, should be assessed in the context of feasibility, local
needs and potentials and if some modifications are considered necessary, these should
be sought.

Formulation of Action Plans

Annual action plans are meant for direct execution. An annual action plan is composed of
schemes identified in the annual plan. However, there are certain factors, which have to
be kept in view while doing this exercise.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

PLANNING PROCESS AT THE BLOCK LEVEL

Selection of Schemes and their Location

The annual action plan is a shelf of schemes for implementation. There are certain
criteria, which have to be kept in view. These schemes, since they are selected from the
five year plan are, no doubt, feasible ones. However, their viability needs to be further
assessed. Besides feasibility and viability, we may have to give priority to certain
schemes, which are the felt need of the people and, therefore, need to be implemented
speedily
As the plan is meant for execution, the availability of required manpower has also to be
checked and, accordingly, the type of schemes and the number of units should be
adjusted. In certain cases, the availability of materials, such as cement, steel etc., are
also crucial, particularly in construction activities. This may decide the number of units
of different schemes of this nature, which can be taken up

Financial Component

For annual action plan, the financial implication has to be worked out; it has to be based
on the available finance from different sources like Government departments, financial
institutions, and any other external agency.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

PLANNING PROCESS AT THE BLOCK LEVEL

Planning for Suitable Schemes

• In any planning exercise, one of the essential tasks is the review of ongoing
schemes.
• Firstly, various programmes being implemented in the area by different
departments and agencies have to be listed out
• After a review of existing schemes is made, the planning machinery has to decide
what is feasible. Feasible schemes, on the basis of resource inventory and review
of on-going schemes, have to be listed out and their numbers have also to be
indicated.
• However, this exercise will be incomplete unless we take care of the backward and
forward linkages for the implementation of these schemes.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

COMPONENTS OF BLOCK PLAN

• Production programmes for the target groups in the area in the light of the resource
potential.
• Manpower planning and skill development in relation to the production programmes.
• A programme for the provision of basic minimum needs
• Provision of adequate institutional support for the removal of the socio-economic
constraints that hamper the implementation of the plan.

Indicative idea of activities which can be executed at the block level

Agricultural and Allied activities, Minor irrigation, Soil conservation and water
management, Animal Husbandry and Poultry, Fisheries, Forestry, Processing of agricultural
products, Organizing input supply, credit and marketing, Local infrastructure, Social
Services and Training of local youth and upgrading of skills of local population.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

DISTINCT IMPLEMENTING INSTITUTIONS

The implementing institutions at various levels.

 Zilla parishad

 Panchayat samithi

 Gram panchayat

The elected Public representatives of the people at various levels.

 ZPTC

 MPTC

 Sarpanch

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

ROLE OF OFFICIALS IN BLOCK LEVEL DEVELOPMENT
Need of Officials: Local leaders knew the people and know the local needs and potentialities.
officials are the most competent persons to judge what is good for people. Hence to
implement program officials are required.
Roles are:
1. To identify the felt needs of the people.
2. To fix priorities for peoples' needs, with their assistance.
3. To list out the local resources available;
4. To harness available and potential resources;
5. To encourage peoples' involvement in programmes;
6. To develop a community outlook among the people;
7. To educate the people to think in terms of planned development;
8. To mobilize required resources.
9. To assist at the time of programme development and implementation; and
10. To assist people in evaluating their progress.
BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING
ROLE OF NON- OFFICIALS IN BLOCK LEVELDEVELOPMENT

Need of non-officials
They have better awareness of about local problems and potential resources.

Role of Non-officials

1. To offer suggestion for block development;

2. To arrange priorities for maximum advantage within minimum period of time.
3. To organize work voluntarily;
4. To raise additional resources, if necessary;
5. To execute the plan;
6. To assist the official, in evaluating the progress of the programme etc.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

ADVANTAGES OF BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING

• Easier to identify and understand problems of a local area.

• Fewer conflicts of interest.

• Local leadership solves problems according to local priorities.

• Planning will be more practical and effective - to give quick, positive results.

• Easier and faster to respond to new situations.

• Base for a balanced economy can be established.

• Can easily identify leakage of capital.

BLOCK LEVEL PLANNING