From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 9: Two decades after the implementation of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act of 1993, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress regime has decided to study the relevance and effectivenss of the legislation for ensuing effective and better implementation of the law in the future.

Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister H K Patil, who spoke to reporters in Bangalore on Monday, said a committee headed by former State Assembly Speaker and senior party MLA Ramesh Kumar has been constituted to study the relevance the act for effective implementation of various schemes by local bodies.

The Ramesh Kumar-led committee members would visit other states which have earned reputation by delegating powers to local bodies.

Several programmes were being implemented by the gram panchayats and there was a need to reform the functioning of local bodies, he said.

The committee, which held its first meeting, has decided to submit a report to the state government after studying functioning of local bodies and various panchayat raj acts prevailing in other states, Patil said.

Ramesh Kumar said the panel would visit states where the Act was implemented effectively to delivery services such as drinking water, roads, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, drainage, literacy and other programmes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Act in Karnataka too would be studied while preparing the report, Kumar said.