Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Redeployment of staff to resume: Paloli

Special Correspondent

Separate engineering wing to be established for local bodies

Thiruvananthapuram: Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty on Thursday said that the Government would soon resume redeployment of employees to the local bodies, besides bringing about a comprehensive change in the structure of bureaucratic setup in these institutions.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for his department, Mr. Paloli said a separate engineering wing would be established for the local bodies. He said that one of the major problems the three-tier local bodies were facing related to shortage of staff. This was leading to delays in execution of various schemes, including Centrally sponsored ones.

The previous LDF Government had taken steps to redeploy Government employees in departments that had excess staff. This was done as per the Sen Committee recommendations. Unfortunately the UDF Government set this process aside.

The structure and responsibilities of the local bodies had undergone a vast change in the last ten years. These institutions were now getting four to five times higher allocation under various heads both in terms of State devolution and Central funds.

The local bodies would not be able to meet their targets unless sufficient staff were allocated, he said seeking the support of the Opposition in this regard.

The Minister said the existing performance audit procedures would be reformed to suit the current needs of panchayats. Among the welfare schemes, the Government would evolve a housing scheme under which land would be provided to all landless families within three years, leading to provision of housing to all at the end of the 11th five year plan.

A slum eradication scheme would also be formulated. The Kudumbasree programmes – Ashraya, Samagraha and lease land farming would be implemented in all panchayats.

The honorarium of elected representatives in local bodies would be revised and implemented from October. All types of pensions and unemployment allowance would be distributed through banks. Additional allowances for anganwadi teachers and ayahs given by the panchayats would be revised to Rs.150 and Rs.75.

Mr. Paloli said that one of the biggest challenges that the local bodies were facing related to garbage disposal. The Government would launch a major project for plastic disposal this month itself.

The Panchayat Building Rules would be issued in six months, he added. He criticised attempts of certain quarters to generate popular discontent against identified garbage disposal sites and projects for garbage treatment plants.

Mr. Paloli, who also holds the charge of Haj and Wakfs, said steps would be taken to induct transparency in the functioning of the Wakf Board. The new Haj House would be inaugurated in November. The Attapadi Eco-restoration project would be streamlined by merging it with the Employment Guarantee programme, he said.

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