ANNUAL PLAN 2002-03
General Economic Services

DEMAND NO. 30

SUMMARY:

The State Planning and Development Department is the nodal department for examining, evaluating and monitoring the projects/schemes undertaken by the different sectoral departments and also covers specialized functions namely formulation of Annual Plan, Five Yeaer Plan, Mid Term Appraisal of FYP. It is also the nodal department for monitoring the implementation of schemes/projects which are fully funded by the Government of India through Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources, Border Area Development Programme, Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana, Twenty Point Programme and projects which are externally aided.

With the increase in the number of the projects/schemes being implemented by different departments, the workload of the Planning and Development Department has increased manifolds. Now the State Government vide notification no. 194/P&D dated 8.5.2001 has constituted the State Planning Commission under the chairmanship of the Honorable Chief Minister. The commission constituted was intended to advise and assist the State in matters of short and long term planning, strengthening its database and mobilization of resources from bilateral/multilateral agencies. With the subsequent addition of four members, the commission now comprises of fourteen members including the Chairman. The Deputy Chairman is conferred the rank of Cabinet Minister and other non-official members are conferred the rank of Ministers of State. In order to run the office of the said commission, the Planning and Dev. Department is responsible for all administrative back-up, logistic support and financial matters.

The Planning and Dev. Department has taken initiative to have Sikkim Human Development Report 2001 prepared by Professor Mahendra P. Lama of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and the Vision document for Sikkim by Dr Ashok Lahiri, Director, NIPFP. These documents will be the focus on which the development strategy of the State will be formulated for long term sustainable development of the State. Consultations on the next steps to the Sikkim Human Development Report 2001 organized by the Government of Sikkim in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the Planning Commission was held on 26^th and 27^th March, 2002 which included distinguished participants from UNDP, Planning Commission, authors of the above two books, NGOs from within the State and outside and Heads of departments of the State Government. Each of the representatives positively responded to the report and expressed their willingness to participate in the implementation of the recommendations made in the report. The HCM made very impressive and insightful statements that have far reaching implications for the development in Sikkim. He mentioned that his government has already implemented at least six of the major recommendations made by the HDR. These are related to the setting up of the State Planning Commission, doing away with practice of untargeted food subsidies, participation of the NGOs and private sector in the development process including in the delivery mechanisms and the selective industrial activities conducting a comprehensive study on the poverty and inequality in the State and a well thought strategy on health and education in the State.

Considering the problems following the dearth of trained and specialized manpower to deal with the plan schemes being implemented by the various sectoral departments, it is felt necessary to undertake strengthening of manpower with essential training in monitoring. Evaluation and impact assessment. Training is also required in computer courses for the existing subordinate manpower to update and process the data, statistics and related information pertaining to Annual Plan, FYP, BADP, Twenty Pint Programme, PMGY, Non-Lapsable, record of minutes of meeting held with the Planning Commission, GOI, NGOs and representatives of External Agencies. In view of above, the department sent its officers and staff for training to Mussorrie and Puri and also for computer training being conducted by Information Technology Department. It is also proposed to send some more officers and staff for training on relevant subjects during the current financial year. Now, the department is in possession of 6 computers which are all handled by the trained staff of the department.

In accordance with the 73^rd and 74^th Amendment of the Constitution and the Sikkim Panchayat Act of 1993. Panchayat elections were held and 33% reservation for women successfully implemented. The State Finance Commission has also been constituted to recommend devolution of resources to the Panchayati Raj Institution in the State which is under active consideration of the Government. The decentralization process has also been started at the Zilla Panchayats and Gram Panchayat level by transferring small schemes from the Forestry, Agriculture & Horticulture, JRY, EAS, Education sector etc. The Government is further planning to decentralize the administrative set up and involve the village level panchayats in most of the developmental activities.

1. SECRETARIAT ECONOMIC SERVICES                Annual Plan 2002-03: Rs 99.00 lakhs
(Direction and Administration)                            Revenue: 3451-00.090

In order to meet the establishment cost of the department such as salaries, office expenses, travelling allowances etc. and keeping in view that the manpower in the department may be further strengthened in due course of time, a provision of Rs 99.00 lakhs has been proposed for the annual plan 2002-03. The organizational structure of the Panning and Dev. Department is given below with a total of 37 regular officers and staff. The post of three Research Officers have been re-designated as Project Officers.

Organisational structure of P&D

Sl. No. Designation President Strength Total strength 1. Principal Secretary-cum-Dev. Commissioner 1 1 2. Special Secretary 1 1 3. Additional Secretary 1 1 4. Deputy Secretary 4 4 5. Under Secretary 2 2 6. Project Officer 2 2 7. Private Secretary 1 1 8. Office Superintendent 1 1 9. Senior Accountant 1 1 10. Computer Programmer 1 1 11. Head Assistant 1 1 12. Stenographer 2 2 13. UDC 1 1 14. L.D.C. 4 4 15. Gestetner Operator 1 1 16. Driver 7 7 17. Peon 6 6   TOTAL 37 37

 

2. STRENGTHENING OF DISTRICT PLANNING MACHINERY
Revenue: 3451-00.102
Annual Plan 2002-03: Rs 78.00 lakhs

The District Planning Office exists with its manpower in the Planning and Dev. Department, Gangtok from where monitoring and evaluation of schemes are being done by the respective Project Officers. From this year, it has been proposed to set up a district office in all the four districts each to be equipped with one Deputy Secretary, Project Officer, Research Assistant, LDC etc.

The department of economic/statistics and monitoring and evaluation continue to generate data on GSDP, Economic Survey, Agricultural Census etc. These reflect the performance of overall plan endeavours. It is expected to develop procedures in the department for regular review of programme implementation and monitoring

In order to meet the establishment cost of the district offices such as salaries, office expenses, travelling allowances etc. it is proposed to keep aside Rs 78.00 lakhs for the lan 2002-03.

3. UNITED FUND
Revenue: 3451-00.092
Annual Plan 2002-03: Rs 12.00 lakhs

The usual practice of keeping United Funds for the District Collectors is being continued. For this purpose, the department is keeping aside Rs 12.00 lakhs for distribution equality among the four districts.

4. BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
(Special Central Assistance)
Annual Plan 2002-03: Revenue: "2575":       Rs 222.00 lakhs
Capital: "4575":                                                Rs 350.00 lakhs

The Border Area Development Programme was extended to Sikkim in 1998-99. This is a 100% Centrally funded programme to be utilized for schemes in the identified border blocks having International borders. The objective of this programme is to have a balanced development of these remote and inaccessible border areas. Sikkim has International borders with Bhutan, China and Nepal comprising of 30.90 kms with Bhutan, 220.35 kms with China and 97.80 kms with Nepal. The State is implementing the BADP in 17 identified border blocks.

In the Annual Plan 2002-03 a provision of Rs 572.00 lakhs has been approved by the MLP Division of the Planning Commission. The State Level Screening Committee met on 14.5.2002 and on 2.9.2002 and passed the the schemes for Rs 335.88 lakhs and Rs 236.12 lakhs respectively for the year 2002-03.

In keeping with above schemes envisaged during 2002-03 the outlay is summarized below.

ABSTRACT

Sl. No Programme Annual Plan 2002-03 "Revenue" Annual Plan 2002-03 "Capital" Total 1. Secretariat Economic Services 99.00 - 99.00 2. Strengthening of District Planning Machinery 78.00 - 78.00 3. United Fund 12.00 - 12.00 4. Border Area Development Programme (Special Central Assistance) 222.00 350.00 572.00   Grand Total 411.00 350.00 761.00