Uttar Pradesh’s 58,000 Gram Panchayats to Prepare Development Plans Digitally

The Yogi government is set to change the way development plans are prepared in around 58,000 Gram Panchayats across Uttar Pradesh. Instead of relying mainly on paper and pen, the state will increase the use of technology to plan village development.

Under the new system, a complete development blueprint will be prepared digitally on the basis of a village’s needs, population and available data. The aim is to make the planning process more organised and ensure that development works are selected using information available about each village.

Rural Development Commissioner Pramod Kumar Upadhyay has issued strict instructions to all District Magistrates in the state in this regard. He has directed them to ensure the effective use of the software available under VB-G RAM G (वीबी-जी राम जी) and the developed Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP) portal.

The commissioner has also directed that technology-based planning should be taken to every Gram Panchayat. The portal will be used to prepare village development plans by considering actual local needs, population, resources and available government data.

VGPP portal to prepare village development plans

The Developed Gram Panchayat Plan, or VGPP, portal has been created to prepare development work plans in Gram Panchayats in a systematic and transparent manner.

Through the portal, information related to villages will be brought together so that development plans can be prepared according to their requirements and available resources. The process will focus on using population details, local resources and government data while deciding the works to be included in a plan.

The new arrangement is intended to reduce arbitrary selection of development works. Instead, the choice of projects will be based on needs and available information. This will help in using the budget properly and ensuring that villages take up the works that are most needed.

For this purpose, the technical skills of officials and employees will be strengthened at the state headquarters, development block and Gram Panchayat levels. The training will cover the use of the portal and the process of preparing development plans through the digital system.

Training to be conducted in two stages

The government has decided to conduct the training of officials and employees in two stages.

In the first stage, officials at the state headquarters and the concerned technical employees will be trained as master trainers. They will then help take the training process to the next levels of the administration.

In the second stage, officials, secretaries and employees working in all development blocks and Gram Panchayats will be trained within the next one week.

During the training, participants will be informed about the use of the portal, its cyber security and the complete process of preparing development plans. Gram Panchayats from all districts will join the programme through their respective development blocks using a virtual system.

The arrangement is aimed at making the preparation of village development plans more structured and transparent while expanding the use of digital tools in rural administration.

More than 1.44 crore farmers registered

Along with expanding digital systems in rural areas, the government is also working on the SVAMITVA scheme and Farmer Registry.

According to the available figures, more than 1.05 crore Gharounis have been created and distributed in the state so far. This has provided rural residents with legal rights over their property.

In the Farmer Registry, registration of more than 1.44 crore farmers has been completed. Under this system, all information related to farmers is being made available on a digital platform.

The system will bring greater transparency and speed to the identification of farmers and the verification of their eligibility for agricultural schemes, including PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi and crop insurance.