Khonsa, Mar 20: The Tirap District Planning Committee (DPC) convened a meeting on Thursday to finalize the Zilla Parishad Development Plan (ZPDP) and the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for the 2025-26 financial year.
Deputy commissioner Techu Aran chaired the meeting, which was attended by Zilla Parishad Chairperson Chathong Lowang, Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs), officials from the Panchayat Department, and representatives from various line departments. The session began with a welcome address by circle officer of Bari Basip Noklem Wangjen, followed by an overview of the meeting's objectives presented by Tirap DPDO Tana Bapu.
During the meeting, Planning & Technical Assistants (PTAs) outlined the GPDP for the upcoming financial year.
The deputy commissioner commended the team for drafting an inclusive and need-based development plan. He emphasized that public amenities such as community toilets should be accompanied by adequate water supply to ensure proper functionality. He also stressed that Gram Sabha meetings should be documented with photographs and that development schemes should be implemented with transparency, focusing on public needs rather than individual interests.
Lowang underscored the importance of need-based planning under the Panchayati Raj system. She called for stronger monitoring mechanisms to prevent ineffective initiatives and emphasized collaboration with line departments for efficient execution of schemes such as the Mid-Day Meal program, Anganwadi centers, and sanitation projects. She also highlighted the necessity of fund convergence to maximize the impact of government initiatives and urged Gram Panchayat Committees (GPCs) to explore alternative revenue sources beyond government panchayat funds.
The meeting also addressed infrastructure concerns, particularly in the education sector. The Kapu Block’s initiative to renovate and maintain classrooms was acknowledged, with a focus on ensuring high-quality furniture. Regarding the Public Health Engineering Department’s (PHED) water storage schemes, the ZPC stressed the importance of Maha Gram Sabhas in overseeing implementation and coordinating fund allocations for water supply projects.
Wangjen urged the inclusion of water conservation measures in future proposals. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from circle officer of Borduria and member secretary Yowa Anya, who recommended that PowerPoint presentations at DPC meetings include photographs of projects to ensure transparency and phase-wise implementation of funds.
