The District Planning office is the District level functionary of the State Planning Board and the District Planning officer is the head of the office. The office is also designated as the Secretariat of the District Planning Committee in the district. The office is vested with the responsibilities of preparation of District Development Plan, Plan of SCA to SCP/TSP, MPLADS, WGDPetc in the district. In addition, the District Planning office is the Nodal office in implementing the MPs Local Area Development Scheme and also co-ordinates other development programmes implemented by different departments in the District.   The District Planning Officer acts as:

a)The Ex-officio Personal Assistant to the District Collector

b)Convenor & Secretary of District Development Council (DDC)

c)Joint Secretary (Co-ordination) of the District Planning Committee (DPC), a constitutional body.

d)Convenor of the District Level Monitoring Committee on MPLADS.

e)Convenor of the District level working group on ST Development

f) Convenor of the District level committee for SC Development.

g) Convenor of the District Level Co ordination Committee on Western Ghat Development Programme (WGDP).

h)Member of the District Level Purchase Committee (KWA).

i)Member of the District Level Review Committee (DLRC) on Banking.

j)Member of the District Level Consultative Committee (DLCC) on Banking.

k)Member of the District Level Committee on Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA).

l)Member of the District Level Committee on Flagship Programme (Khadi).

m)Member of the District Level Committee on SGSY.

n)Member of the District Level Monitoring Committee on SarvaSikshaAbiyan (SSA).

o)Member of District Level Committee on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. (MG NREGS)

p)Convenor of the District Level Committee on new TPP.

q)Member of the General Body of the Forest Development Council.

r)Member of the District Level Monitoring Committee on official language (Malayalam).

s)Convenor of the District Level Advisory Committee on training.

t)Member of the Purchase of Committee of computer & accessories under MPLADS.

u)Member, District total Sanitation Mission.

v)District Co-ordinator, AKSHAYA.

w)Convenor of District Level Appellate Committee of LSGI Plans.

The District Planning Officer plays key roles either as convenor or member of various   committees in the district. The participants of such meetings include the District Officers like DMO (Health), Deputy Chief Engineer, KSEB, Secretary District Panchayat and Superintending Engineer whose grade is often higher than that of the District Planning Officer. The District Planning Officer conducts field inspection to SC/ST colonies and other locations in connection with projects under People’s Plan, centrally Sponsored Scheme viz. MPLADS, WGDP, SCP/TSP and SCA to SCP/TSP etc.,

The District Planning Officer is the Appellate Authority with respect to Right to Information Act (RIA).