SUCH A REVOLUTIONARY & INNOVATIVE SYSTEM AS NEEDS ASSESSMENT [NA] IS TO BE ACTIVATED BY INVOLVING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN AN AREA. WITHOUT PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION IN THIS TASK OF NA, THE NOBLE OBJECTIVES OF THIS APPROACH WILL BE MEANINGLESS. THE CONCEPT OF PLANNING IN ANY SECTOR IS NORMALLY APPLICABLE TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN INDIA. PLANNING AT GRASS-ROOT LEVEL IN THE RCH FIELD IS THE REVOLUTIONARY STEPS TAKEN UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1996-97 UNDER RCH PROGRAM. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT COMCEPT OF PLANNING AT GRASS-ROOT LEVEL IS VALID AND MEANINGFUL UNDER THE POLICY OF DECENTRALIZED PARTICIPATORY PALNNING ADOPTED FOR RCH PROGRAM.