We understand the concept of stakeholders and actors and look at possible stakeholders at National and state levels with two examples. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

Who are the right stakeholders and actors? Are they on board and do they support the project? Are they open to the concept and willing to adapt? How important are they? Do they share common objectives? Do they have the right mandate? Are there some who are the key driving force whereas others who play a secondary role? Are there any veto players? Are all actors only from government, or are they from private sector and civil societies also?

The Government of India has 50 ministries, whereas in a state government in India there can be 30 to 50 departments (depending on size of state) looking into various aspects of governance and multiple sectors. Some of these national ministries and/or state departments tend to look after same sector but different aspects.

Further, each of these ministries and departments tend to have multiple divisions, schemes, autonomous institutes, PSUs and boards etc. Hence it is extremely important to understand the roles, scope, mandate, functions and activities undertaken by each of these departments to understand if they are linked to land use planning.

Click here to access the details of the 52 national ministries of India along with select 200 departments, divisions and schemes of theirs.

The case of Odisha

The state of Odisha has about 40 departments looking into various aspects of governance and multiple sectors. Some of these departments tend to look after same sector but different aspects. Following is a list of major departments in Odisha:

• Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department
• Commerce & Transport Department
• Cooperation Department
• Culture Department
• Electronics & Information Technology Department
• Energy Department
• Excise Department
• Finance Department
• Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department
• Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department
• Forest & Environment Department
• General Administration & Public Grievance Department
• Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department
• Health & Family Welfare Department
• Higher Education Department
• Home Department
• Housing & Urban Development Department
• Industries Department
• Information & Public Relations Department
• Labour & Employees’ State Insurance Department
• Law Department
• Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise Department
• Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department
• Parliamentary Affairs Department
• Planning & Convergence Department
• Public Enterprises Department
• Public Grievances & Pension Admin Department
• Revenue & Disaster Management Department
• Rural Development Department
• School & Mass Education Department
• Science & Technology Department
• Skill Development & Technical Education Department
• Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department
• Sports & Youth Services Department
• ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department
• Steel & Mines Department
• Tourism Department
• Water Resources Department
• Women & Child Development & Mission Shakti Department
• Works Department

Each of these departments has multiple divisions, units, attached offices, institutes, PSUs, statutory bodies and boards. It is estimated that there are over 200 such subdivisions, units, attached offices etc. in these 40 departments as listed above.

Each of these departments also has multiple commissions, committees, schemes, programmes and missions of its own or are part of a national government initiative. Further, some of these commissions, schemes, programmes etc. are housed within a specified subdivision, unit, attached office etc. whereas some have a cross department, cross division representation and involvement. It is estimated that there are about 300 different schemes, policies, programmes, missions and/or committees in these 40 departments as listed above. Click here to access a detailed list of the same as derived based on desk research and details as available on the internet. Though comprehensive, the list may not be complete and is open to additions.

It is understood that all the 40 departments, or their 200 subdivisions or the 300 odd schemes, programmes, policies etc. may not be directly or indirectly related to land use planning and management. However, decisions of one department may impact the function/success of a project, scheme, policy etc. of another department. Hence, it is important to understand the roles, scope, mandate, functions and activities undertaken by each of these departments.

Click here to access the excerpts from an assessment of roles, functions, vision, mandates and activities of 16 select departments and about 50 divisions. The details, though comprehensive, may still not be complete.

The case of Tamil Nadu

The state of Tamil Nadu has over 30 departments looking into various aspects of governance and multiple sectors. Some of these departments tend to look after same sector but different aspects. Following is a list of major departments in Tamil Nadu:

• Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department
• Agriculture Department
• Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department
• BC, MBC & Minorities Welfare Department
• Commercial Taxes and Registration Department
• Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Department
• Energy Department
• Environment and Forests Department
• Finance Department
• Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department
• Health and Family Welfare Department
• Higher Education Department
• Highways and Minor Ports Department
• Home, Prohibition and Excise Department
• Housing and Urban Development Department
• Industries Department
• Information Technology Department
• Labour and Employment Department
• Law Department
• Legislative Assembly Department
• Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department
• Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department
• Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department
• Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Department
• Public Department
• Public Works Department
• Revenue Department
• Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department
• School Education Department
• Social Reforms Department
• Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department
• Special Programme Implementation
• Tamil Dev. and Information Department
• Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department
• Transport Department
• Welfare of Differently Abled Persons
• Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department

Each of these departments has multiple divisions, units, attached offices, institutes, PSUs, statutory bodies and boards. It is estimated that there are over 300 such subdivisions, units, attached offices etc. in these 37 departments as listed above.

Each of these departments also has multiple commissions, committees, schemes, programmes and missions of its own or are part of a national government initiative. Further, some of these commissions, schemes, programmes etc. are housed within a specified subdivision, unit, attached office etc. whereas some have a cross department, cross division representation and involvement. It is estimated that there are about 275 different schemes, programmes, missions and/or committees in these 37 departments as listed above. Click here to access a detailed list of the same as derived based on desk research and details as available on the internet. Though comprehensive, the list may not be complete and is open to additions.

It is understood the all the 37 departments, or their 300 subdivisions or the 275 odd schemes, programmes, policies etc. may not be directly or indirectly related to land use planning and management. However, decisions of one department may impact the function/success of a project, scheme, policy etc. of another department. Hence, it is important to understand the roles, scope, mandate, functions and activities undertaken by each of these departments.

Click here to access excerpts from an assessment of roles, functions, vision, mandates and activities of about 20 select departments and about 50 divisions. The details, though comprehensive, may still not be complete.

I would like to appreciate the extensive data digging undertaken by Mr. Rajkumar Bopanna for the two cases of Odisha and Tamil Nadu.

It is now time to understand the Land Use Categories. Click here to read on.