The Planning Commission has launched a new initiative in the 10th plan namely the Backward District Initiative under Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY). The primary objective of the RSVY is to address the problems of pockets of high poverty, low growth and poor governance by putting in place the programmes and policies which would remove barriers to growth and accelerate the developmental process.

                Dhemaji district of Assam has been selected under the Backward District Initiative from the year 2004-2005. The district plan for Dhemaji district under RSVY is formulated as per guidelines issued by the Planning Commission, Govt. of India. The lead sectors were 1) Agriculture including Animal Husbandry and Fishery, 2) Water (Drinking and Irrigation), 3) Sericulture, Handloom & Textiles. In addition to funding is the lead sectors provision for infrastructure development like road, electricity, cold storage, rural growth centre, urban infrastructure is made in this plan. This will bridge the critical gaps and break the cycle of poverty and backwardness in the district. Other activities like bamboo plantation, bamboo craft production is included to use the degraded lands and drive economic benefit.             

                 The activities will be taken up in three pockets located at Dhemaji, Sissiborgaon and Murkongselek Block. Special projects for Sericulture and fishery are also identified in Machkhowa and Bordoloni Block.

                Schematic details in various sectors were finalised in consultation with the technical departments NABARD and NERIWALAM. The schemes in different sectors are selected based on the core competency of the area . The unit cost were taken from NABARD Potential Link Credit Plan 2004-2005 document and the unit cost approved by the state level unit cost committee.