Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/zilla-funds-axe-political-necessity-14022.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Zilla funds axe ‘political necessity’ | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Zilla funds axe ‘political necessity’
-The Telegraph

The Mamata Banerjee government’s move to appropriate the financial powers of the zilla parishads in North 24-Parganas, Nadia and Murshidabad has set the stage for battle in next year’s panchayat elections.

Senior Trinamul leaders said with the financial powers gone, these three zilla parishads have effectively been wrested from the Left.

Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said the move to take away the financial powers was an “administrative necessity” as in the standing committees of these bodies, which have to sanction all financial decisions, the Left had been reduced to a minority.

“The standing committee’s approval is mandatory for release of funds for various projects,” Mukherjee said. “When a body is unable to get the committee’s approval, it becomes a lame-duck institution. So, we decided to hand over the financial authority to the district magistrates.”

Mukherjee said the Trinamul government’s move was nothing but “a leaf out of the Left Front government’s book”.

“The Left government had dissolved as many as 67 gram panchayats and four panchayat samitis in Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore in 2010 because they were not functioning,” Mukherjee said. “We have done the same.”

CPM MLA and former minister Anisur Rahman admitted this. “The rural bodies were not being able to do any work because of the Maoist menace in these three districts. That’s why we were forced to hand over charge to the district administration,” he said.

Mukherjee cited Section 212 of the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973, to defend the move. “Just take a look at Section 212. We are perfectly within the rights given to the government by this section to take such steps,’’ Mukherjee said.

Section 212 of the Act says that in the discharge of their functions, gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads shall be guided by such instructions or directions as may be given to them by the state government from time to time.

Decrying the government’s move, Left MLAs today asked for an adjournment of Assembly proceedings and demanded a discussion in this regard.

When told about this, Mukherjee added: “I have been designated by the chief minister to run this department properly. So, it will be my job to execute development work. If projects get stalled because of the non-functioning of zilla parishads, what do I do?’

Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra retorted: “The government’s decision was taken in a clandestine manner and was illegal. This is an undemocratic move… cannot be done as per Section 153 of the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973.”

Trinamul leaders today said it was a “political necessity” to take over the financial powers of the three “non-functioning” zilla parishads.

“We have 184 MLAs and 19 MPs. We have formed the government. We have control over half of the gram panchayats and panchayat samitis. But the political power in a majority of the zilla parishads is still being enjoyed by the CPM because of their victory in the 2008 panchayat polls. So, we had to do something,’’ said a Trinamul general secretary.

Besides, a Trinamul leader added, it was important to have as many panchayat bodies out of the hands of the Left as possible before the panchayat elections. “This is the first step in that direction,” he said.