People's Plan Campaign
Also called: Kerala People's Plan Campaign · Topic: Panchayati Raj: Rural Local Government · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 2 "Federalism"
Meaning
The People's Plan Campaign was Kerala's drive for decentralised planning, launched in 1996. Decentralised planning means plans are made locally, not only in the state capital. Kerala gave a large share of its plan money directly to local bodies, and ordinary villagers drew up plans for their own areas through gram sabhas. It is often cited as the strongest example of real devolution in India.
Example
About 35-40% of Kerala's Ninth Plan money went to local bodies. Villagers met in gram sabhas to list needs such as roads, housing and drinking water. Panchayats then turned these needs into projects.
Don't confuse with
- Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP): a national system, in place since 2015, in which every GP makes an annual plan through the gram sabha. The People's Plan was Kerala's own earlier campaign.
Related concepts
- Gram Panchayat Development Plan
- Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals
- Panchayat Advancement Index
- e-Gram Swaraj
- SVAMITVA scheme