Constitutional Mandate

District Planning Committee is set up under Article 243ZD of the Constitution of India at the district level.

Appointment of District Planning Committee

• The state legislature constitutes a DPC to consolidate the plans prepared by the Zilla Parishad, Gram Panchayats, Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, and Municipal Corporation in the district.
• Composition:
  • Members of the Lok Sabha who represent the whole or part of the district;
  • All the members of the State Legislative Assembly whose constituencies lie within the district;
  • President of the Zilla Parishad;
  • President of the Municipal Corporation or the Municipal Council, having jurisdiction over the headquarters of the district; 
  • About four-fifths of the members of a district planning committee be elected from amongst the elected members of the district panchayat and municipalities;
  • The Chairman of the District Co-operative Banks and the Land Development Bank (Permanent invitees);
  • The Chief Executive Officer (Secretary of the Committee);
  • The Deputy Commissioner of the districts (Chairman of the District Planning Committee);

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District Planning Committee: Functions

• Decentralized Planning: One of the major mandates of the District Planning Committee is to enable decentralized planning in the state.
• Specific Plans: The District Planning Committee makes plans on sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, watershed development, women and child care, public health, education, etc.
• Resource Management: The DPC is required to carry out coordinated development with the available resources.

District Planning Committee: Significance

• Link between ULBs and Panchayats: The District Planning Committee will serve as the link between Panchayats and ULBs of the district.
• Potential Environment for Growth: The committee makes a plan for development by considering the specific needs of the people, the area’s growth potential, and the available budgetary allocations.
• Socio-economic Planning: The committee is critical for the function of ‘economic and social justice planning,’ which is now a mandated local function.
• Consolidated Planning: The District Planning Committee will consolidate the plans suggested by the Zilla Parishad, Gram Panchayats, Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, and Municipal Corporation in the district.

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District Planning Committee: Criticism

• Non-functional: In many states, the DPCs are not properly constituted. In some states, they are not even functional.
• Political Interference: In many states, the DPCs are chaired by the ministers. Because of this political interference, development is affected.
• Lack of Coordination: Despite the mandate of coordination between rural and urban bodies, DPCs have failed to properly coordinate their functioning.
• Funding: There are no separate funds for DPCs allocated in the state budget. The functions they perform do not have enough funding.

Way forward

• Professional Support: DPCs can be provided professional support to improve the efficiency of the DPCs.
  • There also needs to be a professionally qualified District Planning Officer to head the District Planning Committee. The most motivated experts must be invited to participate as experts. 
• Dedicated Cell: A separate cell can be created to service the District Planning Committee. It could provide a dedicated focus on panchayats and municipal bodies.
• Institutional Support: Institutions such as universities and research institutions, both at the district and state levels, could assist the DPC in planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

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73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992

• Origin: The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 added Part IX to the Constitution. It also added a new eleventh schedule to the constitution through Articles 243 to 243O.
• Objective: The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions in the country.
  • The act contains two types of provisions: compulsory provisions, which have to be included in the state laws, and voluntary provisions, which are based on discretion.
• Salient Features of the Act:
  • Three-tiered System: The act provides a three-tiered panchayati raj system in the states, which includes village, intermediate, and district levels.
  • Gram Sabha: It is the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system and includes members from villages. Their functions are stated by the state legislature.
  • Election of Members: Members of panchayats at village, intermediate, and district levels shall be elected directly by the people.
    • The chairperson election shall be determined by the state legislature.
  • Reservation: The reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes is provided under the act. Not less than one-third of the members shall be women.
    • The state legislature can also make provisions for reserving seats for backward classes.
  • Tenure: The panchayats have a five-year tenure. If dissolved before the completion of the term, elections are to be held within six months.
    • The newly constituted panchayat will continue only for the remaining duration.
  • Eligible age: A person is qualified to be elected as a member of the panchayat if he/she has attained the age of 21 years.
  • Authority: The state election commission has to be set up for superintendence, direction, and control of elections to panchayats.
  • Powers of Panchayats: Panchayats have the power to prepare plans for economic development and also implementation of schemes for economic development.
  • Financing: The state legislature can authorize panchayats to levy, collect, and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, fees, etc.
    • The state provides funds to panchayats from the consolidated fund of the state.
  • Finance Commission: Every five years, the governor of the state may constitute a finance commission to review the financial position of panchayats and make recommendations.

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