South district panchayats oriented for Village Development Action Plans

GANGTOK, 10 Feb: A one-day orientation workshop on Village Development Action Plan for South Sikkim was organised at the Zilla Panchayat Bhawan, Namchi by the State Institute of Rural Development [SIRD] on 08 Feb under the chairmanship of Zilla Adhayaksha (South), Ravi Chandra Gurung, informs a press release.
There were a total of 120 participants at the workshop which was conducted by SIRD faculty member, Suraksha Rai.
The objective of the workshop was to inform and sensitize the participants on the need for Village Development Action Plans (VDAP) in achieving the vision of the State government in making Sikkim a Poverty Free State by 2013 and also to discuss on the VDAP operational guidelines.
The workshop commenced with the welcome address by Suraksha Rai, Faculty SIRD, during which she highlighted the objectives of the workshop. DDO south, DK Pradhan informed the participants about the programme Mission: Poverty Free Sikkim 2013 and further pointed out the need and importance of VDPA.
After the DDO’s address, Panchayat President, Aritar GPU, Dhiren Gurung, shared his experience in making VDAP and informed that the role of Panchayats and the rural public is vital in preparing a realistic VDAP and also the coordination, cooperation from BAC, Line department officials and functionaries, adds the release. He stressed that the reactivation of the Gram Planning Forum was a must at all GPUs.
Director, SIRD, PN Tamang gave a detailed presentation on the administrative aspects of VDAPs and informed that the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools will be used for preparing of the VDAP, the release further informs.
In his presentation he also highlighted the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in VDAP and said that VDAP should be realistic and achievable.
This was followed by the presentation on Contents of Village Development Action Plan by Faculty SIRD, Ganga Pd Sharme, Works Manager NREGA Cell, RM&DD Karma Doma Bhutia, and Faculty SIRD Suraksha Rai.
Up Adhayaksha Himal Tamang, in his address stressed on the role of panchayats and requested all the panchayats and government officials to actively participate and cooperate during the preparation of VDAP.
Adhyaksha (South) Ravi Chandra Gurung in his address requested the district and block level officers and the respective panchayats to take the mission seriously and help in achieving the vision of the state government in making Sikkim Poverty free Sikkim by 2013. He also assured full cooperation and coordination in fulfilling the mission, adds the release.
The workshop ended with the vote of thanks by Additional Director (SIRD), HK Sharma. The workshop was attended by Joint Director (SIRD), Bishal Rai, DDO (South), DK Pradhan, Addl. Secretary, RM&DD , Tashi Khangsarpa, DPO (South)  Suchitra Rasaily, Block Development Officers of South District, officials and staffs from SIRD, Panchayat Inspectors, Field Facilitators, APOs and Rural Development Assistant of South district.