Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 25: In order to see whether there are any shortcomings in the already devolved powers and silence the Government’s critics on empowerment of Panchayats, the Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cell is getting third party analysis of devolution of powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) conducted and a New Delhi-based institute has been engaged for the task.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that keeping in view the continuous criticism of the Government on empowerment of Panchayats ever since the setting up of these grass root level democratic institutions in the State, the Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cell has found it appropriate to get conducted the third party analysis of powers already devolved to the PRIs on the recommendations of a committee headed by Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal.
“The Government feels that it has devolved much powers to the Panchayats but the critics are of the view that not enough steps have been taken by the Government to ensure empowerment of these grass root level democratic institutions and in such a scenario it is better to get a thorough review of the powers conferred to the Panchayats conducted from an independent body”, sources said.
For the performance analysis of the Panchayati Raj Institutions and in-depth look into the devolved powers, the Government has engaged Institute of Social Sciences (ISS), New Delhi and necessary financial assistance has been sanctioned in favour of Institute for executing the task, sources informed.
According to an order issued by the Principal Secretary, Planning and Development Department, B B Vyas, who is also Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, an amount of Rs 11.24 lakh under Annual Plan 2012-13 has been released to Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi as 2nd installment for conduct of study on performance of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
“The Institute of Social Sciences shall furnish detailed account of expenditure made against Ist and 2nd installment together with progress report before approaching for the last and the final payment”, the order said.
The Institute of Social Sciences is dedicated to a systematic and scholarly study of contemporary social, political and economic issues from an inter-disciplinary perspective. The Institute makes its research findings and recommendations available to national and State Governments, policy makers, UN organizations, international donor agencies and civil society organizations so as to help them to make their decisions based on sound evidence.
“The study would reveal whether the powers already devolved to the Panchayats are enough or some more steps are required to be taken to empower them to achieve the object of decentralization of powers”, sources said, adding “the Government wants to explore all the options to fully empower the Panchayats and if Institute of Social Sciences identifies shortcoming(s) in its study the Government would not hesitate from taking necessary steps to overcome the same”.
It is worthwhile to mention here that following elections to these grass root level democratic institutions, Government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary to chalk out a roadmap for the empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The Committee examined the issues in detail, and held several meetings and deliberations with the Government functionaries and other experts within and outside the State before submitting detailed report to the Government.
On the recommendations of the committee, the funds, functions and functionaries of 14 key departments—- Agriculture Department, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department, Consumer Affair and Public Distribution, School Education Department, Fisheries Department, Forest Department, Health and Family Welfare Department, Horticulture Department, Industries and Commerce Department, Public Health Engineering and Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Public Works (R&B) Department, Revenue Department, Rural Development Department and Social Welfare Department, were devolved to the Panchayats.
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