Arunachal Cabinet forms DPC to strengthen PR bodies

Itanagar, Dec 7 (UNI) In a significant decision, Arunachal Pradesh cabinet has approved the constitution of District Planning Committee (DPC) in every district.

The committees are to be headed by zila parishad chairman with all the MPs, MLAs, zila parishad members, heads of departments and project director of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) as members to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system in the state. Disclosing this to mediapersons here this morning, government spokesman and Panchayati Raj Minister Tako Dabi said the decision taken as per constitutional provision was a step forward to empower the people at the grassroots, besides facilitating good governance top which the Congress government was committed. However, the process of empowerment with financial power would begin immediately after completion of training being imparted to PR members by State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) and some NGOs. Moreover, the activity mapping for the PR bodies had been completed and notified, he added. Responding to numerous public demands for upgradation of sub-divisional and extra assistant commissioner headquarters to independent additional deputy commissioner headquarters, the cabinet constituted a high-powered five-member committee headed by home commissioner V K Singh as chairman to study the proposal and submit the report to the government.

Other members are secretaries Ganesh Koyu (education), Varsh Joshi (general administration), H Lollen (labour) and senior analyst K Lomi. To provide a respite to the ailing health sector and acute shortage of doctors in remote areas, the cabinet took a major policy decision not only to regularise post of 48 doctors appointed on contractual basis, but also making their posting in remote areas mandatory for five years, Mr Dabi said adding any of them posted in urban areas has to be posted back to rural areas. Reflecting on its resolve against all sorts of corruption, the cabinet also issued a strict directive to the principal secretary, commissioner and secretary of each department to take stringent and time-bound action against government officers found involved in corruption, he disclosed. The much-desired building for the Arunachal Bhawan and guest house at Guwahati, the gateway to NE, would be constructed for which a project report would be prepared and action initiated by the civil supply department, the spokesman said adding this would fulfill a long pending necessity of the government. While appreciating the UPA government at the Centre for sanctioning over Rs 581 crore under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), Mr Dabi said tenders would be floated soon for each district to facilitate participation of local contractor of respective districts and execution of rural electrification projects if awarded.

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