New Delhi, June 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his party on their victory in the parliamentary elections. He also expressed gratitude for their assistance in the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthening India-Armenia relations.
The discussion involved representatives from 18 ministries and departments of the central government, focusing on preparations for the implementation of the VB-G Ramji Act, which is set to commence on July 1.
According to an official statement, the meeting aimed to implement the vision of the Act, which adopts a ‘whole-of-government’ approach for rural development through decentralized, Panchayati Raj institution-led planning and convergence.
This framework includes a ‘bottom-up’ planning structure, where development priorities identified by village councils are gathered through Panchayati Raj institutions and linked with sector-specific programs from various ministries and departments.
The goal of this approach is to ensure that government investments are centered on locally identified priorities, leading to more effective and sustainable development outcomes.
To assist in the implementation of the scheme starting July 1, the department has released an interim list of 318 approved projects. These projects include 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 offers significant opportunities for convergence between different sectors and schemes.
Rohit Kansal emphasized that convergence is the cornerstone of the VB-G Ramji Act, 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 work towards shared developmental goals while maintaining their respective mandates and funding structures.
The Rural Development Department presented a draft of the convergence framework prepared 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 gram panchayat level.
The VGPP, developed 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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Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
