Explanation:

In order to achieve optimum utilization of meager resources and also to ensure peoples' participation at the grass root level, the concept of decentralized planning was introduced in the State a way back in the 1984-85. Accordingly the District Planning and Development Boards were set up in Punjab in 1987. But the actual work of district planning was started in the year 1990-91, when the schemes and programmes of concerned Administrative Departments, which could be better implemented, supervised and coordinated at the district level were decentralised. Accordingly, the District Planning and Development Board headed by a Cabinet Minister/State Minister as Chairman/Vice Chairman have been constituted at the district level to supervise/monitor the work of district planning. All sitting MLAs of the districts, Chairman Zila Parishad, 12 non-official members including one ex-serviceman, one sarpanch or samiti member or Zila Parishad member from the Block, mayor of Municipal Corporations and one or two presidents of class ‘B’ and ‘C’ Municipal Councils have been nominated as members of the Board. These Boards have full power to efficiently and cost effectively implement the district level schemes and also identify areas and groups of people, which needs special attention for equitable socio-economic growth. In compliance with the provision of Article 243ZD of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, 1992, District Planning Committees(DPCs) are mandatory to be constituted in each state of the country for the purpose of preparing a Draft District Development Plan at the grass root level. The Punjab District Planning Committees Act, 2005 was enacted to provide for the constitution of the District Planning Committees with a view to consolidate the plans prepared by the Panchayats and the Municipalities in the districts and to prepare the draft development plans for the districts as a whole in the state.