Dehradun: Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan, while reviewing district-wise development works, directed the preparation of a Vision Document 2047 at the state, district, and panchayat levels. He said that workshops should be organized soon to determine the long-term direction of development. Emphasis was placed on mandatorily holding District Planning Committee meetings by March and preparing estimates for the schemes in advance. Indications were also given for necessary improvements in the guidelines of the district plan to address the problems of the general public.
Chief Secretary holds review meeting on development works: Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan, on Monday, held a district-wise review of development works at the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Auditorium in the Secretariat and gave important directions regarding the long-term development of the state. Following the lines of the national and state-level Vision Document 2047, he directed all District Magistrates to prepare Vision Documents at the district, block, and panchayat levels as well. The Chief Secretary clarified that a solid and far-sighted development plan is only possible when a roadmap is prepared at the grassroots level, keeping in mind the future needs.
The Chief Secretary said that the Vision Documents at the panchayat, block, and district levels should be prepared soon, and necessary workshops should also be organized quickly. Through these workshops, local representatives, officials, and stakeholders will be involved in setting development priorities, so that the schemes are not limited to paper but are effectively implemented on the ground.
Instructions for timely preparation of the district plan: In the meeting, the Chief Secretary described the district plan as the backbone of development and directed that the meetings of the District Planning Committees be mandatorily held by March. He said that homework should begin now so that the schemes can receive timely approval and implementation. All formalities related to the potential works to be included in the district plan should be completed, and their estimates should be prepared in advance, so that there are no financial and administrative hurdles.
The Chief Secretary also said that if improvements are needed in the guidelines and rules of the district plan to address the problems of the general public, then changes should be made accordingly. The objective should be to make district planning more flexible and effective, tailored to local needs.
Emphasis on decentralization in the procurement process: The Chief Secretary directed the Horticulture, Agriculture, and Animal Husbandry departments to grant more authority for procurement at the district level. He said that the pricing process should be made more practical, and options such as fixing prices for two to three years instead of one year could be considered. This will bring stability to the implementation of schemes and save time.
Focus on the People’s Government and Livelihood Schemes: The Chief Secretary said that plans should also be prepared for addressing the complaints and suggestions received under the People’s Government program, and they should be included in the district or state plan according to their nature. He directed that monthly review meetings of schemes like State Sector, DAP, and CCS be held mandatorily.
The Chief Secretary emphasized taking livelihood-related schemes seriously. He said that these schemes should be reviewed monthly at the district level, and a quarterly review meeting will be held at the state level under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to ensure the effective implementation of employment and self-employment schemes.
Special attention to basic facilities in girls’ schools: The Chief Secretary reiterated the instructions to ensure that all government girls’ schools are fully equipped with toilets by March 8, 2026. He also emphasized the need to prepare a concrete and sustainable plan for the regular cleaning and maintenance of the toilets.
