STATUS OF DISTRICT PLANNING COMMITTEES AND PROCESS OF INTEGRATED DISTRICT PLAN IN INDIA

The desire for decentralised planning was first expressed way back in the first five year plan, when it was suggested to break the planning process into national, state, district and at community level. Consequently, the Planning Commission issued guidelines for district planning in 1969, which led to several states formulating district plans. The 73^rd and 74^th Amendments of Constitution of India were the milestones since they provided the much needed constitutional legitimacy to local governance institutions. Followed by these developments and as response to the constitutional mandate, the state governments have constituted the district planning committees and guided for preparation of district plan. In this context, the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has conducted a nationwide study to understatnd status of formation of DPCs and their functional efficiency. This article is an outcome of the study, it presents evolution, composition, powers and functions and supportive mechanism created for DPCs in different states in India. It also presents on the process followed for preparation of District Plan.