(a) whether the proposal for the merger of DRDA with Zila Parishad was under
the consideration of the Government; and
(b) if so, the time by which the said proposal is likely to be finalised?
(a) whether the proposal for the merger of DRDA with Zila Parishad was under
the consideration of the Government; and
(b) if so, the time by which the said proposal is likely to be finalised?
MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) In the First Round Table of State Ministers of Panchayati Raj held at Kolkata in
July 2004, it was resolved that the role of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs)
should be reconceived as an important instrument for Panchayati Raj development through
the progressive merger of DRDAs with the District Panchayats. The technical expertise and
other facilities of the DRDAs should become available to all tiers of the PRIs under the
overall responsibility and disciplinary control of the elected authority in the PRIs at the
appropriate level. The activities of the reconceived DRDAs with respect to the three tiers of
the Panchayati Raj system should be patterned on the activity map for the devolution of
functions, functionaries and funds so that all the three tiers of PRIs have equitable access to
the resources, expertise, facilities and manpower of the DRDAs.
The guidelines of the DRDA Administration Scheme issued by the Ministry of Rural
Development do not prescribe merger of DRDAs with Zilla Parishads as a general policy.
However, under the guidelines, the State Governments have been allowed flexibility to
operate the DRDAs as a distinct cell in Zilla Parishads with a separate identity. A
Committee of Secretaries from various States is under constitution by Ministry of Rural
Development to formulate changes in Structure of DRDAs.
(b) In three States, namely, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, the DRDAs
have been merged with the Zilla Parishads. The position regarding other States is annexed.
ANNEXURE
THE STATE-WISE STATUS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DRDAs
Sl.No. STATES CHAIRMAN
1. ANDHRA PRADESH Dy.Commissioner 2. ARUNACHAL PRADESH Dy.Commissioner 3. ASSAM Chairman ZP 4. CHHATTISGARH Chairman ZP (DRDA Cell within ZP) 5. BIHAR Chairman ZP 6. GOA Chairman ZP 7 GUJARAT C.E.O. 8. HARYANA Dy. Commissioner 9. HIMACHAL PRADESH Chairman ZP 10. JAMMU & KASHMIR Dy. Commissioner 11. JHARKHAND Dy. Commission (No ZP) 12. KARNATAKA Chairman ZP (Merged) 13. KERALA Chairman ZP 14. MADHYA PRADESH Chairman ZP (Merged) 15. MAHARASHTRA Chairman ZP (DRDA Cell within ZP) 16. MANIPUR Chairman ZP 17. MEGHALAYA Panchayat Act not Applicable Dy. Commissioner 18. MIZORAM Panchayat Act not Applicable Dy. Commissioner 19. NAGALAND Panchayat Act not Applicable Dy. Commissioner 20. ORISSA Chairman ZP 21. PUNJAB Dy. Commissioner 22. RAJASTHAN Chairman ZP (DRDA Cell within ZP) 23. SIKKIM Secretary RD 24. TAMIL NADU Dy. Commissioner 25. TRIPURA Chairman ZP 26. UTTAR PRADESH Chairman ZP 27. UTTARANCHAL Chairman ZP 28. WEST BENGAL Chairman ZP (Merged but with separate account)