KADAPA: Twenty-nine subjects presently dealt by the State Government have to be transferred to Panchayat Raj institutions as per 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments and devolution of powers, functionaries and finances was imperative, Third State Finance Commission Chairman B. Satyanarayan said on Tuesday.

Though the Commission had been seeking comprehensive data on 22,000 villages in the State, data pertaining to about 4,000 villages was furnished so far, he said. Kadapa district furnished data relating to about 50 per cent of panchayats, he said in an interaction session with district officials at Zilla Parishad meeting hall.

Self-reliance

Panchayats should mop up their own resources by effectively collecting taxes and fees from citizens and seek additional funds from the State and Central Governments, rather than entirely depending on the latter, he observed. The commission would identify transfer of functions, functionaries and finances to Panchayat Raj institutions - zilla parishads, mandal parishads and gram panchayats.

Commission Member-Secretary N. Gangaiah said GOs were issued for devolution of powers on 27 of the 29 subjects proposed to be transferred.

Collector G. Asok Kumar called for devolution of powers and funds and fixing of responsibility and accountability. Panchayat Raj set-up was strong in Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, he said.

Education and awareness

He favoured capacity building among elected PR representatives and said education would promote awareness of Acts. Nearly 40 per cent of funds go to panchayats in Kerala, he said.

Jammalamadugu MLA C. Adinarayana Reddy wanted augmentation of drinking water and power supply works done in all areas, without confining them to model wards and villages. Though the commission recommended allotment of Rs. 1,200 crores to Panchayat Raj institutions and Rs. 600 crores to municipal bodies in 1999, it was decided to earmark Rs. 200 crores for PR bodies and Rs. 100 crores to civic bodies, its member C.N.V. Subba Reddy said. Municipalities were not getting their share of one per cent of railway freight revenue, he said.

He assured to recommend more funds for drinking water schemes.

Another member T. Babjee called for conviction among officials and a strong enforcing machinery. Sarpanches lacked powers and funds to strengthen tax collection machinery, he said.

He lamented that recommendations given by two previous commissions were not implemented by the Government. Kadapa MLA Md. Ahmedullah, commission members Y. Anand Rao, M.V. Raghava Rao, section officer K. Linga Reddy and officials of various departments took part.

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