DHARWAD: The State Government plans to appoint ombudsmen in all districts to monitor the functioning of non-officials and officials of the gram, taluk and zilla panchayats.

Transfer of funds

The Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, H.C. Mahadevappa, told presspersons here on Thursday that the creation of the institution of ombudsman has become necessary with the massive transfer of funds to the panchayat raj institutions from this year.

Dr. Mahadevappa said he is not sure whether there will be a State-level ombudsman as well. However, the district-level ombudsmen will function on the lines of the Lokayukta and act on written complaints. They will make inquiries and submit reports to the Government along with recommendations for disciplinary action to be taken against errant officials and functionaries. It will be up to the Government to take action based on the reports. This will be in addition to provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act, which provides for action under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Dr. Mahadevappa said his department is working out the modalities, and after consultations with agencies such as the Lokayukta, the matter will be referred to the Cabinet. The ombudsmen will possibly be appointed within the next couple of months or before the end of the current financial year at the latest.

He said the Government is contemplating giving the presidents of the zilla panchayats the status of Minister of State. On the question of posting an IAS officer senior to the Deputy Commissioner as chief executive officer of the zilla panchayats, the Minister said there are two views on this, one in favour and the other against. It, however, stands to reason that the chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat should be senior to the Deputy Commissioner since almost all the developmental functions have been transferred to the zilla panchayats. All officials seconded to work under the panchayat raj institutions will have to work under the control of the respective institutions, and the president will have the power to take disciplinary action against them, the Minister said to a question.

When his attention was drawn to the fact that primary education has not been transferred to the gram panchayats, he said he will look into the matter.

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