ORGANISATION SETUP
Originally Community Development Department was a minor department under the then NEFA Secretariat under the overall control of the Development Commissioner. The Department was attached to the Directorate of Agriculture and the Director of Agriculture and Community Development was the designated Head of Office for administrative and development activities. Subsequently, on introduction of Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) during 1978-79, the organizational structure was reviewed and Rural Development Department was brought under the direct command of the Development Commissioner in 1982. In 1998, the Panchayat Department was attached to the Rural Development Department and renamed as Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj with the Director (RD & PR) as Head of Office and Commissioner/ Secretary (RD) as Head of Department.
The District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) were set-up as per all India pattern in 11 districts of Arunachal Pradesh w.e.f 2nd October, 1983 as an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (as extended to Arunachal Pradesh in 1976). Two more DRDAs were set-up for new districts of Papum pare and Upper Siang in 1994 and 1996 respectively. Two more DRDAs were set-up for Dibang Valley and Kurung Kumey. Another DRDA for Anjaw is under consideration.
There was a staffing pattern for CD Blocks for community development activities. But with the introduction of various Centrally Sponsored Schemes under poverty alleviation sector, the Blocks were strengthened with a team of extension staff, VLWs and Gram Sevikas under the command of the Block Development Officers.