The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Decentralisation process impresses Chinese delegation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 23, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Decentralisation process impresses Chinese delegation

Staff Reporter

`This is one of the best experiments in local self-governance'

ENRICHING DISCUSSION: Members of the Chinese delegation during a discussion with district panchayat president Anavoor Nagappan in the city on Wednesday. — Photo: S. Mahinsha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Impressed by the decentralisation of powers which was successfully implemented in the country, a visiting Chinese delegation which called on the State Election Commission, District Panchayat and city corporation on Wednesday said that they would try to emulate the model in China.

The visit of the 12-member delegation, led by Wang Jinuha, director of the Division of Rural Affairs, Department of Basic-level Governance and Community Development under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, was organised by the Institute of Social Sciences.

Mr. Jinhua held discussions with district panchayat president Anavoor Nagappan on the three-tier panchayat system.

The special features of the local governance system being followed in the country was effective in addressing local problems with public participation, especially in health, education and development sectors, Mr. Jinhua said.

China and India share a tradition of peace and friendship and the solutions adopted by India in addressing local issues through the civic bodies were worth adopting.

"The needs of the common man are almost same in all countries. There are a lot of things that can be learnt from the Indian experience. This is one of the best experiments in local self-governance. We will tell the people what we have seen and experienced in India," Mr. Jinhua said.

Following the decentralisation of powers, about 40 per cent of the Plan funds was being handled by the Local Self-Government institutions.

Guidelines

The funds were being handed over with clear guidelines for utilisation in various sectors. It has been clearly directed that 25 per cent each of the allotted funds should be utilised in the productive, infrastructure development and SC/ST development projects and 10 per cent each for the welfare projects for women, children and the physically challenged, Mr. Nagappan said. The projects were finalised by grama sabhas, comprising residents of each locale, and development seminars organised to fine-tune the projects.

The projects for the current financial year could not be presented before the grama sabhas since the model code of conduct was in force.

Though the administration of schools, hospitals and many other institutions has been handed over to the civic bodies, the Government continued to disburse the salary of the staff. Moreover, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) duplicated the functions performed by the civic bodies, he said.

Mr. Nagappan also hinted that once the Assembly elections were over, there would be a change in the political milieu in the State. This, he said, would help the civic bodies gain more powers.

Earlier, the team called on State Election Commissioner N. Mohandas.

The team visited the corporation and held discussions with Mayor C. Jayan Babu and chairmen of various Standing committees.

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