Union Minister releases revised Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI) Guidelines

What is the News?

Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj has released the revised Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation(RADPFI) Guidelines. 

What is the need for Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI) Guidelines?

There have been spatial development initiatives that have been implemented in India, especially in urban areas. However, there has been no comprehensive exercise for rural spatial planning of panchayats/villages. 

In recent times, there has been a large growth in rural areas, but this unplanned growth has led to inefficient utilization of geospatial potential in rural areas. 

Thus, spatial planning especially for the villages located in the vicinity of the urban centres and those, along the major road corridors, becomes necessary.

Hence, keeping this in view, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has revised these guidelines.

What is the purpose of RADPFI Guidelines?

The plan aims to serve as the basis for rural transformation and enable effective Land use planning in rural areas. 

The plan will also ensure ease of living in villages and help minimising migration to big cities by providing all necessary infrastructure and facilities and also resources and opportunities for livelihood in rural areas.

What are the key features of the RADPFI Guidelines?

Village Planning Scheme(VPS) on the lines of Town Planning Schemes in urban areas; 

provisions of linking Gram Panchayat Development Programme (GPDP) with Spatial Land Use Planning,

Planning for environmental benefit and disaster preparedness.

Linking to the 15th Central Finance Commission(CFC) and respective State Finance Commission (SFCs).

Improving the E-Governance through Spatial Data Infrastructure

Integrating/Consolidation of GP Development with RURBAN CLUSTERS/ Block District Plan,

Using the  SVAMITVA (and other digital tools) for the Abadi area (linking to land records).

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Union Minister releases revised Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI) Guidelines’ published in PIB on 21st January 2022.