Revised Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI) Guidelines

In News

• Recently, the revised Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI) Guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj were released.

Background

• In recent times, there has been large growth in rural areas but this unplanned growth has led to inefficient utilisation of geospatial potential in rural areas. 
• In India, rural areas cover 94% of land and 69% of population while urban areas hold 6% of land and 31% of population. So, there is more need to plan and transform rural area development.
• Keeping this in view, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has revised the Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI) Guidelines, 2017.

Why is Spatial Area Planning Needed?

• Unplanned spatial development in GPs
• Extended Urbanisation Area, 
• Emergence of Census Towns, 
• Improve the QoL & Sustainability of Gram Panchayats, 
• Integration of Reforms/programs (SVAMITVA, RURBAN, New changes in State Acts & Amendments, re-emphasis on Disaster, Climate Change, Resilience Codes, etc.) 
• Need to be linked to Agro-Climatic Regions/zones linked to SDGs

Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI)

• Aim: To have planned spatial development for overall integrated development of villages.
• Objectives:
  • To suggest a methodological framework for preparing Gram Panchayat level Development Plan.
  • To arrive at a spatial standard for Gram Panchayat development, especially for abadi areas.
  • To prescribe norms and standards for providing infrastructure facilities and amenities at the village level and its integration with spatial district plan.
  • To examine the provision of existing statutory framework and suggest suitable amendments so as to ensure preparation of Rural/Village level Development Plan.
  • To recommend institutional framework for operationalising the guidelines and provide a road map for planned development of Gram Panchayat.
• It includes Village Planning Scheme (VPS) on the lines of Town Planning Schemes in urban areas.

Image Courtesy: Report 

Revised RADPFI Guidelines Focused On:

• Typology of villages to prepare the spatial development plan (population, agro-climatic zones, Hill areas, disaster occurrence, urban-peri-urban areas and villages, Near to NH/SH, and Resilience strategies as suggested by BIS). One shoe does not fit all. 
• Dealing with different development Land Use standards for different areas, with varied characteristics. To facilitate the planned spatial development of rural areas. 
• Village Town Planning Scheme (VPS) – through community based on Collaborative Planning. 
• Planning for environmental benefit and disaster preparedness.
• Linking to 15th CFC and respective SFCs. 
• Improving the E-Governance through Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI).
• Integrating/Consolidation of GP Development with RURBAN CLUSTERS/Block/District Plan, as per the 73rd and 74th CAA and GPDP.
• Most importantly using the SVAMITVA (and other digital tools) for the Abadi area (linking to land records).

Need of Rural Area Transformation

• High population: 
  • There are 6.4 lakh villages in the country and 68.84 percent of the total population lives in the rural areas. 
  • These villages have varied characteristics and show different degrees of transformation from rural to urban.
• Geographical Extent:
  • The areal extent of rural areas, State-wise as well as for the entire nation indicates the vast stretch of the land are in rural areas. 
  • Almost 94% of the total area of India comprises rural areas. 
• Constitutional mandate:
  • One of the responsibilities of Gram Panchayats in the 73rd CAA is to prepare plans for economic development and social justice for Gram Panchayat. 
• Supports Multiple Activities:
  • Rural areas are highly flexible, and cater for a wide range of activities relating to agriculture, as well as rural industries, tourism, basic raw material extraction and mining. 
  • At the same time, rural land may also contain land with significant environmental values, providing habitat to various species. 
  • They are also centres for primary activities like dairying, farming, poultry, pisciculture and mining. 

Conclusion

• These newly introduced Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI) guidelines will transform rural India.
• It will enable effective land use planning in rural areas and in improving the quality of life in rural areas.
• These guidelines would supplement the efforts of the Centre such as the SVAMITVA scheme of Ministry of Panchayati Raj and RURBAN Mission of Ministry of Rural Development and facilitate better utilisation of Geospatial information.

Source: BS