From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Mar 9: Meddling and interference by state government, especially legislators is hampering the smooth functioning of Panchayat Raj institutions, according to an expert study by the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore.
The ISEC, in its just published study on ``Decentalised Planning in Karnataka: Realities
and Prospects (2010),’’ has brought out the malaise affecting the local self-government bodies due to the meddling and interference by the state through the MLAs and MLCs in the functioning of the Grama Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats seriously affecting their autonomous functioning.
The decentralisation of planning needs to be a bottom-up process in Karnataka, rather than being largely top-down one at present, and PRIs should be empowered with their own administrative staff, and given functional and allocation freedom.
The PRIs were acting as agents of spending for the State and Central Governments’ schemes rather than enjoying functional freedom. Most of the state and central schemes were conditional and specific in nature and had to be implemented by the PRIs irrespective of their need at the local level.
The research study carried by M Devendra Babu, ISEC Associate Professor, said the personnel working in local bodies are deputed from different government departments and experience showed that by and large, they have a negative and lethargic attitude towards these institutions.
``Instead, these personnel should co-operate with the local bodies in the larger interest of local development. What is needed is true administrative decentralisation with the PRIs allowed to have their own (Panchayat) cadre of personnel, “ the study said.
The pachayats should be empowered to initiate action against these personnel for misconduct or dereliction of duty or for not carrying out the decisions/resolutions passed by them that are within the legal framework.
However, there was no evidence of the PRIs adopting their own poverty/unemployment reduction programmes or any other scheme/programme, it said underlining the need for giving PRIs some degree of freedom to utilise funds (free outlay) at their disposal.
Dr Babu said that grants and funds given to the PRIs should be free from conditions and they should have their own resource-raising powers which reduce dependency on the higher level of governments for resources.
The study called for disbanding of parallel bodies entrusted with rural development activities which in principle ought to be the domain of local bodies, which should get the funds.
Another problem encountered at the taluk panchayat and gram panchayat levels is the State is yet to provide planning personnel and integration of the gram panchayat plan into the taluk panchayat plan and latter into the zilla panchayat plan is not happening in reality.
A majority of the members were unaware of their panchayat budget, schemes, guidelines and importance of the gram sabha.
``The most important need is creation of awareness among the people and capacity building of local level functionaries,’’ Dr Babu added.