RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYAT RAJ DEPARTMENT
1.Information about the department
1.1 About
The DRDA is the principle organization at the district level in implementing
various anti-poverty Schemes of Government of India as well as State
Government. The DRDA is visualized as a specialized and professional Agency,
capable of implementing the anti-poverty programmes, and effectively carrying
out the objectives to the rural masses. It helps in strengthening the rural
infrastructure and bringing up the economic prospective of the villages with a key
for the eradication of backwardness and poverty. DRDA is implementing number
of schemes with an aim of enabling the rural people, improving their standard of
living and Infrastructure facilities of Panchayats. The main thrust of the
programmes implemented are removing the economic disparity and bringing
people above poverty line.
1.2 Vision and Mission
District Rural Development Agency was formed under Tamil Nadu Society act in
1980. The Governing body of DRDA includes Member of Parliament(MP) Member
of Legislative Assemblies(MLAs), District level officers of Development
departments, banks, NGOs meet once in a quarter and review the schemes which
are implemented through DRDA.
Core Role and Functions
- Programme Oversight: DRDA manages and monitors the fund utilization of major rural welfare policies. It does not usually execute the physical work itself, which is handled by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and technical line departments.
- Targeting Beneficiaries: It identifies families living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) via field surveys to ensure aid reaches marginalized communities.
- Three-Fold Support: The agency operates across Technical, Managerial, and Financial capacities to guide local execution teams.
- Infrastructure Monitoring: It oversees the development of basic village amenities, including rural connectivity, Individual and school infrastructure, and water resources.
1.3 Organizational Structure
The DRDA is registered as a distinct society under state registration acts to give it operational flexibility.
- The Chairman: The District Collector (or District Magistrate) typically serves as the Chairman of the Governing Board.
- The Executive Head: A senior administrative official, usually a Project Director or Additional Collector, supervises day-to-day administrative operations.
- Administrative Funding: The operating overheads of the agency are jointly met by the Central and State Governments, traditionally on a 75:25 sharing ratio.
