Bhubaneswar, Aug. 1: The state government plans to involve villagers in the development process of their respective areas in a bigger way.
They will be encouraged to give suggestions about the projects to be taken up at their village through the panchayats on a priority basis.
All these programmes will be undertaken under the scheme "Our Village, Our Plan".
Panchayati raj secretary Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh said: "The gram panchayats are getting huge funds keeping their population and size into account from various sources, including the 14th Finance Commission. They need to chalk out their plan. If they lack funds to carry out a particular programme such as building a bridge, the state government will assist them by taking up the project under different schemes."
Sources said the gram panchayats, which are getting an annual grant of Rs 45 lakh, would henceforth get Rs 63 lakh. The grants and funds to a panchayat are likely to touch Rs 1.39 crore by 2019-20.
Chief secretary G.C. Pati today reviewed the "Our Village, Our Plan" scheme and directed the officials to urgently prepare the panchayat-specific schemes by the end of September.
The state government has initiated a process to reconstitute the panchayats. All the district collectors have been asked to submit their proposals to this effect by September 15. At the time of reconstitution of the panchayats, the 2011 Census data will be taken into consideration. The population of a panchayat will not be more than that of 5,000 and the panchayat headquarters from the village will be within 5km.
According to the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act, the number of wards in a panchayat will not be less than 11 and more than 25.
The block development officer will form a committee to take a decision on the reconstitution of panchayats. Other panel members include the local tehsildar, gram panchayat extension officer and the child development project officer.
The district collector will scrutinise the block development officer's report. The notification to the reconstitution of the panchayat will be notified by August 17.