New Delhi, June 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his party on their parliamentary election victory. He also expressed gratitude for their assistance in the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening India-Armenia relations.
The discussion included representatives and nodal officers from 18 ministries and departments of the central government. This meeting is part of the preparations for the implementation of the VB-G Ramji Act, set to begin on July 1.
According to an official statement, the meeting focused on implementing the Act’s vision, which promotes a decentralized, Panchayati Raj institution-led planning approach for rural development through a ‘whole-of-government’ strategy.
This framework incorporates a ‘bottom-up’ planning structure, where development priorities identified by village councils are aggregated through Panchayati Raj institutions and aligned with sector-specific programs from various ministries and departments.
The aim of this approach is to ensure that government investments are concentrated on locally identified priorities, leading to more effective and sustainable development outcomes.
To assist in the implementation of the scheme from July 1, the department has released an interim list of 318 approved projects. These projects encompass natural resource management, irrigation, rural connectivity, community infrastructure, livelihood-supporting assets, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness.
Participants noted that the broad scope of approved projects creates numerous opportunities for convergence across different sectors and schemes.
Rohit Kansal emphasized that convergence is the cornerstone of the VB-G Ramji Act. It is essential for addressing interconnected rural development priorities such as water security, livelihoods, infrastructure, climate resilience, and local economic development.
He explained that the Act envisions a “Single Plan: Multi Funding” approach, allowing various schemes and programs to maintain their mandates and funding structures while working towards shared development goals.
The Rural Development Department presented a draft of the convergence framework developed under the Act. At its core is the ‘Developed Gram Panchayat Plan’ (VGPP), which serves as the primary planning tool for rural development at the village council level.
The VGPP, prepared with community participation and approved by the gram sabha, aims to connect local needs with the resources, expertise, and investments available under various central and state schemes.
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