Improving the financial health of rural local bodies through spatial planning

Abstract

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA), which introduced Part IX in the Constitution making state legislatures responsible for devolving power, funds, and authority to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs), India embraced this new waveof decentralisation, imbibing all of its intrinsic characteristics, but nowhere does it mention Rural India's Spatial Planning. Rapid unplanned development has been observed in villages over the lastdecade, particularly near urban centres in the village's extended abadi (residential) area, giving rise to unplanned and unauthorised development, which needed to be regularised and retrofitted into planned development. The planning process for rural land near urban centres is important becausethe activities permitted in these rapidly changing villages must be decided in order to create a sustainable environment in the villages. Gram Panchayats, as the third tier of governance and the tier closest to the people, play an important role in assisting the people. Furthermore, Article 243Gof the Constitution mandates Gram Panchayats to be endowed with authority to enable them to prepare plans for economic development and social justice within their respective areas. The Ministry of Panchayat Raj (MoPR) issued guidelines for Rural Area Development and Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADPFI) which introduced the different typologies of villages,Land Use standards for different areas, Village Town Planning Scheme through community-basedplanning. Using the SVAMITVA programme for digitalisation of villages in the Abadi area (linking to land records), the RURBAN MISSION are all programmes aimed at developing rural areas in India. Considering the rate of development and increasing demand for Land i.e. is the onlyresource rural area has so there is a need for planning interventions/strategies for balanced development in rural areas to regularised planned development. This thesis focuses on investigating the financial profile of Rural Local Bodies and to identify the Land Based Rural financial Instrument to make GP self-sufficient by generating own sourcerevenue through existing resources which are unidentified yet. This thesis proposes the Gram Panchayat Spatial development plan of Jalalpur Improving the Financial health of Rural Local Bodies through Spatial Planning: A case of Rural Ghaziabad Didhar GP which consists of three villages in Muradnagar Block of Ghaziabad District. Through the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and majorfocus area of Ministry of Panchayati Raj, this thesis will demonstrate the best suitable example for a specific typology of village with Land based financing instruments. The goal of the thesis is to strengthen the GP financially which can be achieved through spatial planning. Finally, suggesting recommendations for existing Building Byelaws for rural areas of Uttar Pradesh for defining norms and fees through upcoming infrastructure, buildings and land use based model on the gaps identified from the analysis. The study will contribute to overall Gram Panchayat development both spatial and financially