New Delhi: Unhappy with the collector playing a “predominant role” in formulating the district plans, the Planning Commission has asked the states to take inputs from the local governments and panchayats for the development schemes.

“... typically district plans are prepared ... with or without peoples’ participation, and are brought before a district mission in which the collector has the predominant role in decision making,” the plan panel said in detailed guidelines sent to the states.

Thus, fund flows for implementing plans are fully insulated from states and the panchayat set-up, it has said.

It emphasised decentralising plans to ensure that the benefits of mega Central schemes such as job guarantee for rural people are delivered effectively.

States must redesign their plans so that they reflect their specific requirements right up to the local level. They must go beyond simply matching assistance from the Centre in Centrally-sponsored flagship schemes, the plan panel said.

“... state plans have tended to become an aggregation of state line department plans to fit in with resources available under central funding streams,” the Commission pointed out.

The allocation for the Central flagship plans such as National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has been increased year-on-year. Outlays for such mega plans was Rs 2,40,000 crore in 2008-09.