New Delhi

U.N., Plan panel convergence to achieve MDGs

NEW DELHI: The Planning Commission and the United Nations on Friday signed a joint programme on convergence to help India’s backward districts achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs) with better utilisation of government resources.

As part of the joint programme, the U.N. has committed about $ 15 million for select backward districts in seven States with low Human Development Indices.

The programme document was signed by Bhaskar Chatterjee, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission, and Maxine Olson, U.N. Resident Coordinator. Now each district receives approximately $75 million a year under a large number of government schemes. However, the absence of convergence leads to poor utilisation. The programme aims at addressing this lacuna through improved district planning, better budgeting and collaborative implementation in which departments do not duplicate efforts. It also provides for better monitoring of outcomes of government programmes. The State governments and district administrations are the key partners.

Dr. Olson said the programme would be a good example of the U.N. working together with national, State and district authorities to build a vision and plan of action to achieve the MDGs. Mr. Chatterjee said the two projects — capacity building for district planning and State level support for livelihood promotion strategies — for which the Commission would be the implementing partner would supplement the government efforts at enhancing the capacity of district level officials and panchayati raj institutions. The projects would also serve as a catalyst for inclusive development as was spelt out in the Eleventh Plan by developing replicable approaches to participatory planning and monitoring.

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