Tribal development strategy in Tripura is gaining a grassroots dimension as Village Development Plans (VDP) under TRESP bring communities and government stakeholders together to identify local priorities. The exercise could help create village-specific development roadmaps and improve coordination of public resources across tribal areas.
Key Takeaways:
- 1,338 participants have joined VDP training across 62 Village Committees covered under Phase-I and Phase-II activities.
- SIPARD is using 23 Resource Persons and six Master Trainers in each TRESP block to support participatory village planning.
- The VDP exercise could help Tripura build a village-level development database for policy formulation, resource convergence and sustainable interventions.
Agartala, August 13: Tripura is expanding a grassroots planning exercise aimed at giving tribal communities a greater role in defining their development priorities. Under the Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project (TRESP), Village Development Plan (VDP) training is bringing residents, local institutions and government representatives together to identify needs at the village level.
The exercise is moving beyond routine training. It is creating a structured process to collect local inputs and translate them into village-specific development plans.
Community Inputs at the Centre of Planning
The VDP process uses a community-driven approach. It brings together a wide range of stakeholders.
Participants include representatives of line departments, elected representatives, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Producer Groups (PGs), Community Resource Persons and School Management Committees. Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), senior citizens and other village residents are also taking part.
Their participation can help capture development priorities that may not emerge through conventional administrative planning.
The objective is to prepare comprehensive plans based on the aspirations and requirements of individual villages. These plans are expected to provide a clearer picture of local development gaps.
SIPARD Leads Three-Phase VDP Process
The Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tripura, has entrusted VDP training and facilitation to the State Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (SIPARD).
SIPARD is implementing the exercise through a structured three-phase training model. The institute is also supervising the planning process.
TRESP’s Block Project Management Units (BPMUs) are supporting the programme on the ground. They are mobilising participants and coordinating activities at the village level.
To strengthen field-level facilitation, SIPARD has created a dedicated pool of 23 Resource Persons and six trained Master Trainers in each TRESP block. These teams are guiding participants through village-level discussions, planning exercises and data collection.
62 Village Committees Covered So Far
The VDP programme has steadily expanded since its launch.
SIPARD has completed Phase-I training in 38 Village Committees. Phase-II training has also been completed in 24 Village Committees. Together, the two phases have covered 1,338 participants.
The participants include community members as well as officials from different service delivery departments.
The initiative initially started with five model Village Committees in West Tripura and Sepahijala districts. It has since expanded to other districts covered under TRESP.
Field Activities Gather Pace
Implementation is also progressing across individual RD Blocks.
The TRESP team at Killa RD Block recently completed Phase-I VDP training at Jalema Village Committee. The programme involved 27 participants.
Ampi RD Block conducted its Phase-I training at Palku Village Committee from August 11 to 13. The programme covered 34 participants.
Meanwhile, Mungiakami RD Block has started a three-day Phase-I training programme at Maharanipur Village Committee. The session is scheduled to conclude on August 14.
The training programmes are being conducted at Village Committee offices and other nearby community locations. This approach keeps the planning exercise close to the communities it aims to serve.
Building a Grassroots Development Database
A key significance of the VDP exercise lies in its potential to connect village-level information with future development planning.
Residents can identify local priorities through discussions and data collection. Government representatives and community institutions can then contribute their knowledge of available services and schemes.
This process can help create a more detailed understanding of development requirements across tribal villages.
It can also support the convergence of resources. Different departments and community institutions may use the plans to identify areas where their programmes can complement each other.
Strengthening Local Governance
The programme is also building planning capacity within villages.
Officials associated with the initiative have reported growing awareness and participation among residents. Villagers are taking part in training sessions, discussions and data collection activities.
The three-phase process can therefore serve two purposes. It can help prepare Village Development Plans while also improving local capacity for long-term planning and governance.
VDPs May Shape Future Tribal Development
The expansion of the VDP initiative could give Tripura a more detailed picture of development needs in its tribal areas.
The resulting plans are expected to support future policy formulation, resource convergence and sustainable development interventions. They could also help authorities understand priorities at the village level rather than relying only on broader block or district assessments.
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For tribal communities, the exercise offers a platform to identify their priorities and contribute directly to development decisions.
As TRESP expands the VDP process, the initiative is positioning village communities as active participants in planning their own development rather than only beneficiaries of government programmes.
