'Kerala's decentralisation process worth emulating'

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 17. Kerala has set a model worth emulating for other States in the decentralisation of power, the Union Minister for Rural Development, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, has said.

Inaugurating a seminar on `Decentralisation in Kerala: status and next steps', organised by the Institute of Management in Government (IMG) here today, Mr. Naidu said that Kerala was in the forefront of devolution of power.

``Many States like Kerala have gone progressively ahead in handing over powers to the civic bodies, but most of them have not yet conducted elections. But Kerala has set a model in holding timely elections too,'' Mr. Naidu said.

Kerala, which has witnessed massive developments in education, health care and public distribution system, was witnessing yet another mass movement for realising the ideals of democratic decentralisation, he said.

Most of the State Panchayati Raj Acts provided for setting up of subject committees of panchayats comprising elected members and experts to prepare plans with the full participation of grama sabhas. ``They also supervise and execute works under the guidance of the panchayat president. Active committees deepen people's participation and curb arbitrary tendencies in the president. The results in Kerala are encouraging,'' Mr. Naidu said.

Kerala has reversed the traditional method of gradual transfer of power to local self-governments in accordance with perceived improvement in their capacities to exercise them.

The Government devolved funds and then structured procedures and systems. This system responded quickly to the ups and downs of the process. The civic bodies were pushed by the new responsibilities to carry out their work to the best of their ability. This was a wise strategy since it was impossible to transfer power in degrees, he said.

The Chief Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony, in his presidential address, said that the Government would hold discussions with the civic bodies before finalising the Tenth Plan projects. The civic bodies were no more Government agents. They should be more people-friendly and accountable and strive to enhance accountability and productivity and solicit private investment in development. The Government had a realistic approach in development to correct the mistakes and go ahead, he said.

The IMG Director, Mr. Rudra Gangadharan, welcomed the gathering. The Local Administration Minister, Mr. Cherkalam Abdulla, the Rural Development Minister, Mr. C.F. Thomas, the Rural Development Minister of Karnataka, Mr. M.Y. Ghorpade, the Planning Board vice-chairman, Mr. V. Ramachandran, the Mayor, Prof. J. Chandra, and the World Bank Advisor on Decentralisation, Mr. Luis Constantino, were among those who addressed the seminar.

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