Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, May 18: The normal life is disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic. The government is thinking of appointing administrative committees for gram panchayats whose tenure is already over. The elections of such gram panchayats are postponed by six months.

For the first time in the history of gram panchayats nominated members will rule in the administrative committee. The district commissioners of respective districts are given the power to recruit members to the administrative committees.

There are 6,021 gram panchayats in the state. The tenure of more than 2,300 gram panchayats will get over on June 4. Before this period, the process of recruiting administrative committees to all these gram panchayats will take place.

K S Eshwarappa

In the month of July, another 3,400 gram panchayats will complete their present tenure. The rest will complete theirs in September.

According to the Panchayat Raj Act of 1994, a panchayat should get re-elected before the completion of tenure of the ruling one. If it is not possible to conduct elections, then the government has to recruit administrative officers to such panchayats. But for the first time, administrative committees are formed in place of administrative officers.

As it is summer now, the rural areas are facing a shortage of drinking water and also drought. That is why the government is trying to form the administrative committees to make good use of the local governance.

DC will nominate that same number of people in the elected panchayat using his discretionary powers. Nominated members should be living in the respective panchayat limits.

Either a junior officer of Grade A or taluk level officer of Grade B will be nominated as the president of the administrative committee of the panchayat. The tenure of such an administrative committee will be six months. Elections for panchayats should be held within that time.

It is decided to give the members of the administrative committee, the same powers as that of elected members. They can conduct meetings with panchayat development officer and secretaries and give necessary suggestions. But they cannot take any decisions with respect to finance. That will be taken by the officer who will be recruited as the president of the committee.