NITI Aayog calls for shift from sectoral to spatial planning for rural development

New Delhi: NITI Aayog Member R Balasubramaniam on Tuesday called for a shift from sector-based development planning to a spatial planning approach, with greater focus on human and social capital and building local economic clusters.

Speaking at a national workshop on 'Viksit Panchayat: Connecting People, Places, Resources and Opportunities', organised by NITI Aayog, Balasubramaniam stressed the need for a more integrated approach to local development.

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Spatial planning uses geographical, land-use and other location-specific data to determine where infrastructure and public services should be developed to improve efficiency and equitable access.

According to an official statement, the workshop highlighted decentralised governance, spatial planning, capacity development, digitalisation and convergence as key elements in advancing the Viksit Gram Panchayat initiative.

Deliberations focused on four areas — decentralised and spatial planning, capacity development at the grassroots, spatial planning for priority sectors and integration of spatial planning into the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) process.

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Participants also discussed the constitutional framework governing Panchayati Raj institutions under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and Part IX of the Constitution.

The discussions underlined the need for clearer mapping of responsibilities, adequate financial resources, appropriate staffing, greater decision-making powers, stronger Gram Sabha participation and institutional accountability.

The workshop also examined the use of GIS, geospatial data, village master plans and digital platforms to identify local resources, infrastructure gaps, land-use patterns and potential development opportunities.

Integrating spatial information with the GPDP, eGramSwaraj and the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) could help strengthen evidence-based planning and improve coordination among different development programmes, the statement said.

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