Question

In the context of the People's Plan Campaign (PPC), how are environmental aspects and resource sustainability ensured?

1. Environmental aspects of development are ensured primarily through centralized governmental policies, not local participation.
2. The sustainability of resources is guaranteed only through active participation of local people.
3. PPC prioritizes economic growth over environmental protection and resource sustainability.

• A. ഇവയൊന്നുമല്ല
• B. ii, iii
• C. ii മാത്രം
• D. i

Answer 1

Answer:

C. ii മാത്രം

Understanding the People's Plan Campaign (PPC) and Resource Sustainability

• The People's Plan Campaign (PPC), also known as Janakeeya Aasootranam, was a landmark initiative launched in Kerala in 1996, during the Ninth Five Year Plan period.

• Its primary objective was to institutionalize decentralized planning and empower Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs) such as Gram Panchayats, Block Panchayats, District Panchayats, Municipalities, and Corporations.

• The core principle of PPC was to shift the power of decision-making, planning, and implementation of development projects from the state level to the local levels, encouraging grassroots participation.

• Ensuring Environmental Aspects and Resource Sustainability

• The PPC specifically mandated that development plans formulated at the local level must integrate environmental concerns and focus on the sustainable use of resources.

• This integration is achieved through the active and direct participation of local people in various stages of planning and implementation.

• Gram Sabhas and Ward Sabhas (local citizen assemblies) serve as crucial platforms where local residents identify their needs, discuss environmental challenges (like water scarcity, waste management, deforestation), and assess available resources.

• Through these participatory forums, local communities contribute to the preparation of village/ward resource inventories and formulate micro-level plans that are context-specific and environmentally sensitive.

• For instance, projects related to water conservation, afforestation, solid waste management, and protection of local biodiversity are identified and prioritized by the people themselves.

• This bottom-up approach ensures that development interventions are not only economically viable but also ecologically sound and resource-efficient, as local communities have intrinsic knowledge of their immediate environment and a direct stake in its preservation.

Why Local Participation is Key for Sustainability

• Unlike centralized policies that might be generic, local participation allows for tailored solutions to unique environmental problems faced by different localities.

• Local communities, being the direct beneficiaries and affected parties, are incentivized to ensure the long-term sustainability of resources they depend on.

• This model rejects the notion that environmental protection is solely the responsibility of a central authority; instead, it delegates significant responsibility and power to the people closest to the resources.

PPC and the Kerala Model of Development

• The PPC is considered a significant component of the Kerala Model of Development, which is renowned for its high social development indicators achieved with relatively lower economic growth, emphasizing equity, social justice, and participatory governance.

• It demonstrates that sustainable development can be achieved effectively when local communities are empowered to manage their own resources and environment.

• Therefore, it is the active participation of local people that primarily guarantees the sustainability of resources and addresses environmental aspects within the framework of the People's Plan Campaign.