VILLAGE POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN (VPRP)

Focus: GS-II Governance, Social Justice

Introduction

• The Article 243G of the Constitution intended to empower the Gram Panchayats (GPs) by enabling the State Governments to devolve powers and authority in respect of all 29 Subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule for local planning and implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice.
• The local bodies (GPs) play a significant role in the effective implementation of flagship schemes on subjects of national importance, for transformation of rural India.

Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP)

• Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) brings together both the citizens and their elected representatives in the decentralized planning processes.
• GPDP is expected to reflect the development issues, perceived needs and priorities of the community, including that of the marginalized sections.
• Apart from the demand related to basic infrastructure and services, resource development and convergence of departmental schemes, GPDP has potential to address the social issues.

Village Poverty Reduction Plan (VPRP)

• The Village Poverty Reduction Plan (VPRP) is a community demand plan prepared by the SHG (Self-Help Groups) network which can be further integrated into the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).
• This serves as the mission and plan document around which the Gram Panchayat and the SHG network work together to address the basic needs of the people.
• VPRP includes demands of SHG households and demands of other vulnerable sections of the community.
• This guarantees the representation of demands from all sections of the community.
• VPRP also Creates a fair, transparent and participatory plan.
• VPRP is a bottom up plan preparation for addressing the demands of the community.

Objectives of VPRP are three-fold

1. Prepare a comprehensive and an inclusive demand plan of the community for local development
2. Facilitate an interface between the SHG federation and Panchayati Raj institutions for development of demand plan
3. Strengthen the community-based organisations and their leadership for active participation in poverty reduction activities

Components of VPRP

1. Social inclusion – plan for inclusion of vulnerable people/household into SHGs under NRLM
2. Entitlement – demand for various schemes such as MGNREGS, SBM, NSAP, PMAY, Ujjwala, Ration card etc.
3. Livelihoods – specific demand for enhancing livelihood through developing agriculture, animal husbandry, production and service enterprises and skilled training for placement etc.
4. Public Goods and Services – demand for necessary basic infrastructure, for renovation of the existing infrastructure and for better service delivery
5. Resource Development – demand for protection and development of natural resources like land, water, forest and other locally available resources
6. Social Development – plans prepared for addressing specific social development issues of a village under the low cost no cost component of GPDP