Other States - Rajasthan   

More funds sought for Panchayati Raj institutions

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, JUNE 9 . A call was made to the Twelfth Finance Commission here on Tuesday to recommend allocation of more funds to the Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) at the grassroot level to enable them to look after the civic services in the rural areas efficiently. The villages in Rajasthan are already getting 60 per cent share in the State Plan.

The participants in a consultation on the status of Panchayati Raj in the State pointed out that while the financial condition of panchayat bodies should be improved, they should also be encouraged to develop their own resources and fully utilise the funds allocated to them.

The one-day consultation was organised at the State Institute of Public Administration here by PRIA, a voluntary organisation working for promotion of participation and democratic governance. The consultation focused on the finances of PRIs after the 73rd amendment to the Constitution and the functions devolved on them.

Amarjeet Kaur Ahuja, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry for Rural Development, said full utilisation of the allocated funds would strengthen people's faith in PRIs and facilitate the development of rural areas. She also called for ensuring greater role for women in the panchayat bodies by their mobilisation.

The Principal Secretary of the State Panchayati Raj Department, M.K. Khanna, said the Rajasthan Government had decentralised power by transferring 16 subjects listed in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution to panchayats. Several programmes were organised in 2003 for capacity-building of sarpanches and panches, he added.

It was pointed out on the occasion that the State Government had constituted two State Finance Commissions and largely accepted the recommendations relating to the devolution of resources to the local bodies.

Though the financial powers have been entrusted to all the three tiers of PRIs, the financial position is still not very encouraging.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• More funds sought for Panchayati Raj institutions

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu