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Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Mani push for panchayats-Basant Kumar Mohanty

-The Telegraph


A jump in the Centre's annual social welfare spending from Rs 7,500 crore in 1991 to Rs 3 lakh crore now has failed to make much difference on the ground because panchayati raj institutions are being kept away from implementation of the schemes, a committee has found.

The committee headed by senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, in its report released on the eve of National Panchayat Day, pitched for a greater role for panchayati institutions.

"Our ranking on UN Human Development Index continues to stagnate at about the same position of 135 as it was in 1990. Only about 50 countries out of 186 are worse than us. Outlays are not commensurate with outcomes," Aiyar said. "The fault essentially lies in our last-mile delivery system of public goods and services."

According to the Constitution, implementation of social welfare programmes comes under panchayati institutions. But except the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Backward Regions Grant Fund, none of the over 150 central schemes has adequately provided for a role for them.

The district and block administration that implement these schemes are not accountable to the panchayati institutions.

"The Constitution recognises PRIs as institutions of self-government. They are elected instruments of grassroots democracy. Only panchayats can be responsible and responsive to the people's need," Aiyar argued.

The committee has analysed a few flagship schemes and advocated delineation of functions, functionaries and finances to panchayati institutions. "For example, under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, the panchayati institutions may be given the responsibility of monitoring attendance of teachers and implementation of the mid-day meals," said Nirmala Buch, a panel member.

Union panchayati raj minister V.K.C. Deo said his ministry would examine the report and prepare detailed plans on implementing its recommendations.