BY TC News Desk
Agartala, September 11, 2023: The District Administration of Khowai has initiated a new scheme called Integrated District Development Blueprint to assess the development potential of the district and identify SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) projects in various social and economic sectors. The scheme aims to build a holistic vision for the development of the district and help the line departments to plan their actions according to the central and state schemes.
The scheme involves resource mapping and project selection at the block level through a consultative process involving the administration, police, all line departments, elected representatives and general public. The media will also be invited to participate in the district level consultation. The projects should be based on the existing potential or pressing issues of the block or municipal council (MC) and should have significant social or economic benefit. The projects should also be self-sustaining and achievable in the next three financial years.
The consultative meetings will be held in all six blocks and municipal councils in the district under the chairmanship of District Magistrate and Collector, Khowai. The Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Block Development Officers (BDOs) will be responsible for the coordination and arrangement of the meetings in their respective areas. All panchayat secretaries, block level officers of line departments, principals of colleges, CHOs/MOICs, OCs, representatives of ARDD, Fisheries, Agriculture, Forest and other stakeholders will attend the meetings and come prepared with a list of projects that can be undertaken in their sectors or in convergence with other sectors. The elected representatives of the block and MC will also be invited to the meetings. The general public interested to contribute will be welcomed to attend the block/MC level meetings.
There will be a second consultative meeting after seven days of the first meeting, where the projects will be given proper shape and shortlisted along with tentative financial involvement in three categories: short, medium and long term projects. The second meeting will be followed by field visits and site verification jointly by BDOs/CEOs and line departments.
A project screening committee will be formed by the CEOs and BDOs for each MC and block. They will keep a drop box for receiving suggestions from the general public. The screening committee will finalize the list of works in short, medium and long term within seven days after the second meeting.
The district level officers of the line departments will attend the meeting at district level. The honourable MLAs of the district will also be requested to share their valuable ideas in the district consultative meeting. The esteemed members of media will also be invited.
Timeline for consultative meetings will convene at 11 AM and they are: Mungiakami on September 14, Khowai MC and Khowai Block on September 16, Teliamura Block on September 19, Tulashikar Block on September 20, Teliamura MC on September 21, Padmabil on September 26 and Kalyanpur Block on September 27.
The District Administration has said that there is no earmarked fund for implementation of Blueprint, but it will actively seek funds through Corporate Social Responsibility, funds under disposal or public representatives of LSGs. It has also said that the scheme is a novel initiative to promote participatory planning and development in the district.
