Picture Courtesy: GNHC
To incorporate and streamline sectoral reforms, and other emerging issues concerning the Local Government’s planning, prioritization, and budgeting of developmental programs, a revised Local Development Planning Manual was unveiled today.
Developed by the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC), the revised manual will guide the LG officials to prepare plans and programs that will promote the community’s wellbeing and socio-economic development.
With this updated Local Development Planning Manual in place, the previous manual, which was formulated in 2014, would now be scrapped.
Considering the sectoral reforms such as the inclusion of Annual Performance Agreement or APA targets, and provision of annual grants, the manual had to be reviewed and updated.
According to the GNHC officials, APA targets are monitoring tools that would keep the local government on its toes when it comes to the implementation of planned development programs and activities.
Other emerging and cross-cutting issues such as gender, climate change, environment, poverty, culture, and disasters are taken into account and addressed while planning the developmental activities.
“To ensure that the manual is being used, we will be sensitizing about the manual to 20 dzongkhags, sectoral, and planning officers soon,” said Tshering Choden, Assistant Planning Officer with the GNHC.
The Local Development Planning Manual was revised after thorough consultation with the 20 Dzongdas, dzongkhag planning officers, and thromde officials.
The first manual was inked in 2009 to serve as a guidebook for the local government officials to frame developmental plans and programs that represent the true needs and aspirations of the people.
Since then the manual has been updated periodically to enhance its purpose and relevance.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Pema Lhaden
