The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : Focus on role of panchayat bodies in rural development

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Wednesday, Apr 06, 2005

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Focus on role of panchayat bodies in rural development

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, APRIL 5. People's high expectations from the Panchayati Raj institutions after the 73rd amendment to the Constitution and the role of panchayat bodies in bringing about development of villages were highlighted during an ongoing conference of newly elected Zila Pramukhs and Chief Executive Officers here today. A call was made to the elected representatives to own responsibility for quality of works undertaken by panchayats.

The Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Kalulal Gujjar, inaugurating the three-day conference at the Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Evam Grameen Vikas Sansthan here, underlined the need for better coordination between the Panchayati Raj institutions and bureaucracy for speedy development of rural areas and said the elected representatives should widen their vision of progress and improve their capabilities.

"Awareness is needed not just among the rural populace but also among the panchayat representatives. Their strength will help implement development schemes at the ground level," Mr. Gujjar said. He said a Cabinet committee, headed by the Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria, was currently examining various aspects of empowering panchayats as influential institutions.

Mr. Gujjar pointed out that Rajashan was selected as the venue for the last round-table national meet on the devolution of powers in various spheres to panchayats in December 2004. The Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Mani Shankar Aiyar, had released a compendium of resolutions of seven round tables, making 150 recommendations, here after the meet.

The State Government is considering all the recommendations for strengthening the Panchayati Raj system, while the Cabinet committee visited Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala in this connection last month. Mr. Gujjar said the committee would shortly submit its report to the State Government.

The Minister affirmed that the Gram Sabhas were the "fundamental units" on which the Panchayati Raj system rested and said a greater participation of the local villagers in their functioning would help identify the priorities for rural development.

While the Secretary, Panchayati Raj, R.P. Jain, said an improvement in the individual capacity of elected representatives would lead to prompt achievement of targets, the Panchayati Raj Commissioner, O.P. Saini, said efforts should be made to augment the income of panchayat bodies making them financially self-sufficient.

A presentation regarding the powers transferred to panchayats was made in one of the technical sessions in the conference, while the scope for implementation of schemes for poverty alleviation, watershed development and social security was discussed in another session.

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