Karnataka and Five Other States Receive Panchayati Raj Awards
Media Release
New Delhi, Apr 24: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today called on the States to take more steps for strengthening the Panchayati Raj Institutions so that the Panchayats in country could play a more effective role in inclusive development and providing access to the masses in the Government programmes. Dr. Manmohan Singh was inaugurating the The National Panchayati Raj Day Function at Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi Today.
Dr. Manmohan Singh said the impact of the 73rd Amendment in rural India is clearly visible as it has changed power equations significantly. Elections to the Panchayats are being held regularly. Through over 600 District Panchayats, around 6000 Intermediate Panchayats and 2.3 lakh Gram Panchayats, more than 28 lakh persons now have a formal position in our representative democracy. He said Panchayats not only ensures direct participation of deprived people in administration but thet also play an important role in ensuring the accountability and transparency of of Government Agencies and Officials. He said the participation of Panchayats in different development is necessary as Panchayats are aware of local needs. Hence special importance have been given to Panchayati Raj Institutions in the 11th Plan . We should more specifically make it a point that Panchayati Raj Institutions must work more effectively work in the remote and tribal areas as it will help in tackling the problems like Maoism, Dr. Manmohan Singh added.
The Prime Minister said said Government is aware of the difficulties being faced by the Panchayats. It is and will be our Endeavour to extend basic facilities to PRIs and provide them Funds, Functions and Functionaries as it will re-orient the services rendered by the Panchayats. Dr. Singh emphasized the need of Capacity Building of Panchayats. Referring to the announcement of the of facilities provided by the 13th Finance Commission in the previous budget Dr. Singh said as per the announcements Panchayats have been given a share in the Taxes. He said this will establish Panchayats as a unit of local administration in true sense.
The Prime Minister released The State of Panchayats Report 2008-09 on this occasion. This report is in two volumes. He also gave away awards to Six States namely, Kerala , Karnataka, Tamil Nadu , West Bengal, Maharashtra and Sikkim for the best performing States under the Panchayat Empowerment & Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS). Kerala & Karnataka received 1st Prize of Rs. Rs. 2.50 crore each. The 2nd prize of Rs. 1.50 crore each was awarded to . Tamil Nadu , West Bengal each. Maharashtra bagged 3rd prize of Rs. One crore while Sikkim received Rs. One crore as the Best performing North East State. The Minister for Rural Development and Secretary Rural Development from these States received the awards.
Welcoming the Prime Minister Union Panchayati Raj Minister Dr. C.P. Joshi said a good number of initiatives have been taken by the Government to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system. Under various programmes/schemes, Panchayats have been made principal implementing agencies. Efforts are also going on to build the capacities of PRIs under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and BRGF. He said we need to focus more on what next? He said Planning, Flow of Funds, Adequate staff , Devolution (3 Fs) and Functioning of Gram Sabha are the points of concern. He said there is a need to emphasis on convergence among different programmes/schemes at the panchayat level. The present Panchayat system is guided by the vision of our Father of Nation “Mahatma Gandhi”. Mahatma Gandhi advocated Panchayati Raj, a as the foundation of India's political system. His term for such a vision was "Gram Swaraj" or Village Self-governance, where each village is responsible for its own affairs. His vision of Gram Swaraj became a guiding principal for our Constitutional Draft Committee.
Dr. Joshi said all possible efforts need ensuring that the Panchayats are adequately empowered by providing all basic necessities at the Panchayat level like health centre, schools, vocational centres, all weather road, rural people with clear vision about their village/panchayat, adequate infrastructure and staff etc. Since a large number of Panchayats do not even have full time Secretary. Unless Secretary is available on all working days in the office, the functioning of the institution would remain a question mark. It would be my endeavour alongwith the States to provide such office buildings and essential staff through Mahtama Gandhi NREGA, BRGF and other sources. Dr. Joshi reffered to the on going ‘Year of the Gram Sabha’ to highlight the critical importance of Gram Sabha in responsible self-governance and said that under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA construction of Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra with e-enabled services as Village Knowledge Resource Centre and Gram Panchayat Bhawan has been approved. The initiative is likely to transform the Panchayat system because it is found that almost 25 percent of the Panchayats do not have their own office /building and only 20 percent GPs have computing facility.
In his vote of thanks, Shri A.N.P. Sinha, Secretary in the M/o Panchayati Raj urged for increase in the Plan Allocation for enhancing the capacity of Panchayati Raj In stitutions. He also requested the Prime Minster to summon a special meeting of National Development Council for a National Consesus in this regard.
The conference is being attended by host of dignitaries including Union Ministers, Members of the Parliament, Ministers/officials from the States/UTs, elected PRI representatives from all over the country, Experts and Academicians.