Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC) today submitted its fourth recommendation report to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, comprising nine key recommendations.

The fourth report of GARC presents recommendations that bring fundamental changes to Gujarat’s planning framework, ensuring direct benefits to citizens.

Key recommendations of the report include: a seven- to eight-fold increase in the district planning budget over the next five years, transformation of District Planning Boards into District Planning Committees with majority representation of elected representatives, adoption of a fixed planning calendar, creation of integrated committees at the taluka level, and the introduction of Village Development Plans.

District Planning Budget to Witness Seven- to Eight-Fold Increase in Next Five Years:

The budget for district planning, which has remained stagnant for years, is now recommended by the Committee to receive a substantial annual increase of nearly ₹10,000 crore over the next five years. This enhanced allocation will enable the development of more roads, schools, and healthcare facilities, while also creating greater employment opportunities. Importantly, it will strengthen grassroots governance by ensuring increased participation of local communities in the development process.

From District Planning Board to District Planning Committee – Majority for Elected Representatives:

Since 1973, District Planning Boards have existed for planning at the district level. This report recommends that, instead of these boards, all district-level planning approvals should now be granted by District Planning Committees, as mandated by the Constitution of India.

Elected representatives at the district level will be given priority in these committees, thereby strengthening the panchayati system, while the district’s in-charge Minister will continue as Chairperson. With this change, the authority to decide development plans at the district level will rest with the people’s elected representatives, bringing the true spirit of democracy to life.

Fixed Calendar for Planning:

The Commission has recommended the introduction of a fixed calendar for planning to streamline processes from project identification under various schemes to administrative approval, tendering, and issuance of work orders. As per this calendar, the planning process for the following year will commence at the village level during June–July of the current year. All administrative procedures will be completed to ensure actual execution begins in April of the next year. This approach will enable the timely completion of works within prescribed deadlines, ensure optimal utilization of funds, and guarantee quality outcomes.

Integrated Committee at the Taluka Level:

Currently, multiple committees exist at the taluka level for approving development works under various government schemes. However, the lack of coordination among these separate committees often creates difficulties in the approval process.

To address this, the Commission has recommended establishing a single Integrated Taluka Planning Committee for approving all works at the taluka level. This unified system will reduce delays, minimize confusion, and enable faster, coordinated decision-making. Ultimately, citizens will directly benefit from the timely implementation of development works.

Village Development Plan – Direct Participation of Citizens:

Each village will prepare its own Village Development Plan (VDP), which will then be approved by the Gram Sabha. At the taluka and district levels, the selection of works for approval under development planning will be made strictly on the basis of these VDPs.

Villagers themselves will now decide which development works should be undertaken in their areas. This ensures that people in rural regions become active participants in development, fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Swaraj — “the village decides its future.” At the village level, citizens will also set priorities for essential services such as education, drinking water, roads, and health centres.

To further strengthen decentralized planning in the state, the fourth report of GARC has put forth several additional recommendations. These include adopting a uniform procedure for project selection across all schemes under the Planning Department (excluding MLA Local Area Development), introducing a technology-driven tracking system, redefining the parameters for identifying developing talukas, and ensuring performance-based accountability.

The recommendations of the fourth GARC report have been uploaded on the GARC website: https://garcguj.in/resources.  DeshGujarat