Panchayats to get performance-linked grants again

By T.S.Ranganna

BANGALORE, JUNE 29. Now that the panchayat elections are over with the Congress(I) winning majority in 26 of the 27 zilla panchayats and most of the taluk panchayats, the Government has decided to resume, after three years, distribution of performance-linked grants to boost the functioning of the zilla, taluk and village panchayats.

Another decision taken by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj pertains to the increase in the prize money to the "best village panchayat" (both at the State-level and district- level). The prize money of Rs.25,000 given to the "best village panchayat" at the district-level will be doubled, according to the sources.

Under the performance-linked grants only one zilla panchayat will get a first prize of Rs.5 lakhs, whereas three prizes of Rs.2 lakhs, Rs.1 lakh and Rs.50,000 are given to taluk panchayats, and three prizes of Rs.1 lakh, Rs.50,000 and Rs.25,000 are given to village panchayats.

The sources said that the committee consisting of chief executive officers of four zilla panchayats and other officers, headed by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Secretary, would decide on the information provided by the zilla, taluk and village panchayats. But, unfortunately, a large number of zilla panchayats and others failed to fill the questionnaire and furnish correct information to assess their performance.

As many as five zilla panchayats had sent their "performance reports" and many others may send them shortly. A total of Rs.35 lakhs had been earmarked for this in the budget. The sources said that the norms under which the winners would be decided would be changed.

The sources pointed out that there seemed to be a lack of coordination between the Government and the grassroots institutions, though the institutions came into existence 10 years ago. A mandatory State panchayat council, headed by the Chief Minister, had not been held as scheduled (two times a year) barring one or two years.

These meetings are planned for discussing issues such as transfer of additional programmes to the panchayats and problems related to their functioning.

Another major statutory lapse on part of Ministers that had affected the development of the panchayats and their progress was their total lack of interest in reviewing the works of their departments. A number of officers committed to the cause of rural development were unhappy that Ministers "talked (about the issues) to their officers at the inspection bungalows itself."

Instead, they felt that Ministers should inform the panchayats' chief executive officers of their visit and direct them to invite the zilla and taluk panchayat presidents and standing committee chairmen to meetings. Senior officers in the department should also accompany them. The Ministers had not conducted any such a meeting during the last five years, the sources said.

An official remarked that many of the problems could be solved by the Ministers during their visits. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, could direct his Ministers to take this work seriously, he felt.

According to the sources, the Ministers, when they visited a district not under their charge, could send confidential reports to the Chief Minister for streamlining the panchayat work as more than half the budget allocations were spent through them.

A study (conducted by RDPR) says that several zilla panchayats had taken decisions and passed resolutions outside their purview. For instance, the Dakshina Kannada, Mandya and Bangalore Rural zilla panchayats had sent resolutions to the Government despite the fact that they were not to do so. It was another thing that the Government rejected them.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Further boost to ties with Singapore
Next     : A courteous officer's farewell without `hurt or
           rancour'