Govt restructures District Plan; 60% funds reserved for core infra sectors

The Nayab Singh Saini government has revised the District Plan scheme to push faster development at the district level starting the 2025-26 financial year. As per the new framework, 60% of the total funds will now be earmarked for core infrastructure sectors such as streets, drains, health facilities, water supply, irrigation, energy, bridges, roads, animal husbandry and horticulture.

New monitoring framework

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“The work proposals would be approved by the DDMCs strictly in adherence to these detailed and transparent revised guidelines. While inefficient monitoring has been a concern for the state government, we have developed a robust and comprehensive approach to address the monitoring of the District Plan scheme through these revised guidelines.”

— Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance)

Introducing an expanded and transparent monitoring system from the current fiscal year, the revised guidelines allocate 10% each for community infrastructure (community centres, chaupals and panchayat ghars), education (schools and colleges), and women and child development (anganwadis/crèches) as well as sports.

For the first time, the government has released a detailed list of permissible and non-permissible works. Previously, District Development and Monitoring Committees (DDMCs) were accused of approving projects outside the scheme’s ambit, leading to misuse of funds.

“The revised ceiling of funds from the financial year 2025-26 to be spent under different sectors keeping in view the priorities of the districts has been reworked so that all important sectors should get due representation,” the new guidelines state.

Priority will be extended to development works in backward and underdeveloped pockets, whether new projects or extensions of existing schemes, to ensure quicker delivery of benefits. The guidelines stress that schemes must be categorised in order of urgency and importance, aligned with available funds.

In a significant change, the government has barred direct involvement of private agencies in implementing or executing projects under the District Plan.

District Plan works are processed and implemented under the supervision of DDMCs, which comprise elected representatives and officials. The minister heading the District Grievances Redressal Committee serves as chairperson, while the Deputy Commissioner is the vice-chairperson. MPs, MLAs, mayors and other public representatives are also part of the committee.

“The work proposals would be approved by the DDMCs strictly in adherence to these detailed and transparent revised guidelines. While inefficient monitoring has been a concern for the state government, we have developed a robust and comprehensive approach to address the monitoring of the District Plan scheme through these revised guidelines,” said Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance and Planning Department.