Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao today asked the state government to draw up an agenda as well as a time-bound action plan for enhancing the effectiveness of the Regional Development Boards.

Addressing a joint meeting of the chairmen and members of the Regional Development Boards (RDBs) of Vidarbha, Marathwada and rest of Maharashtra at Raj Bhavan, the governor called for strengthening the RDBs. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior officials were present at the review meeting.

Observing that questions have been raised in recent times about the relevance and effectiveness of the RDBs, Rao called for drawing up an agenda and a time bound action plan for enhancing their effectiveness, a statement issued by the office of governor said.

Expressing the need for revising the formula for region-wise allocation of funds for the irrigation sector, the governor asked the Planning Department to make necessary recommendations in this regard within three months, it said.

"There is a need to conduct a comprehensive review of the present status and to take corrective measures to fulfill the constitutional mandate. As per the article 371 (2) (c) of the Constitution, it requires that the governor should ensure availability of adequate facilities for technical education and vocational training as well as adequate opportunities for employment for people of three regions in the services under the control of the state government," the statement said.

Rao said the RDBs should be entrusted the task of conducting studies on the implementation of the flagship programmes of the government such as Start up India, Skill India and Swachh Bharat.

"Such studies would provide the government concurrent evaluation of the implementation process," he said.
Fadnavis underlined the need for a more focused attention to key issues by the development boards. Taking serious note of the issues of malnutrition, malaria and tobacco addiction in Gadchiroli district, he said,"We need a strategy to tackle the situation".