Govt framing manual to avoid conflict between officers, members of PRIs

Step to help in smooth exercise of devolved powers

* Panchayats asked to maintain record of all assets

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Jan 6: To ensure that Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) don’t face problems in use of already devolved powers, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has set into motion an exercise to frame manual whereby responsibilities interface by the Government officers and grass root level elected representatives will be clearly defined.
In the month of October 2018, the State Administrative Council headed by the then Governor of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik had approved the required amendments in the Panchayati Raj Act to ensure placement of funds, functions and functionaries at the disposal of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
The most significant change was the addition of specific schedules in the Panchayati Raj Act giving extensive powers to Halqa Panchayats and Block Development Councils in many areas covering almost 20 departments.
A similar attempt had been made in the year 2011 through a Government order but by making the devolution a part of the Act, the then Governor had not only given adequate teeth to the Panchayats but also made it binding for the Government departments to follow it.
Thereafter, from time to time the State Administrative Council gave nod to the department-wise devolution of powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions in order to empower them in the real sense.
“However, the Government has observed that in the absence of clearly defined powers and responsibilities interface by the District Development Commis-sioners, Additional District Development Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Magistrates/ Block Development Officers and elected representatives of Panchayats there are all the possibilities of the conflict and this would leave adverse impact on the ground”, sources told EXCELSIOR.
In order to ensure that such a situation does not erupt and both the Government officials as well as the representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions work in tandem to ensure holistic development of rural areas, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has set into motion an exercise to define the powers and responsibilities of officers and elected representatives of Panchayats.
The task of preparation of manual/handbook in this regard has been assigned to a committee of officers by the Secretary to Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Sheetal Nanda.
“The committee shall also examine and prepare conduct rules for proper functioning between officers/Chairpersons of the Block Development Councils and Sarpanches/ Panches”, read the Government order, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
The committee, which will function in the Administrative Department and under the overall supervision of Director Panchayati Raj J&K, has been asked to complete the task within a period of 15 days.
“The manual would ensure that all the concerned officers as well as representatives of the PRIs work as per the fixed parameters and don’t ever try to interfere unnecessarily in each other’s domain”, sources said.
Moreover, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has issued detailed instructions for up-keeping the records of the assets created by the Gram Panchayats.
As per the specific schedules in the Panchayati Raj Act, Panchayats have been mandated for documentation and protection of all assets and records. “A proper record of all the assets shall be maintained by all Sarpanches/Panchayat Secretaries concerned”, reads the circular issued by the Administrative Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department.
The Directors of the Rural Development Department Kashmir/Jammu, all District Panchayat Officers and Block Development Officers have been impressed upon to get the provision of the Act implemented in letter and spirit and ensure that proper record about the assets belonging to the departments is maintained by the Panchayats.
“The Panchayats shall also maintain records of natural assets such as ponds, forests, lakes and canals etc and these registers shall be updated on quarterly basis”, the circular said.
Moreover, the Directors of Rural Development Department, all District Panchayat Officers and Block Development Officers have been asked to get the sign boards for works/projects being executed or to be executed under various development works displayed in prominent places of the Gram Panchayat by indicating the cost involved and time taken to complete the project/works besides the scheme under which the project is being taken up.
They have further been asked to indicate the executing agency which is mandated under the guidelines of all the schemes of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. “The strict compliance to these instructions will go a long way in ensuring transparency”, sources said.

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