Ajay Raina
JAMMU: Notwithstanding the tall claims even of the present PDP-BJP Government, the ‘choked’ Panchayats across the State are still writhing for free flow of oxygen as whatever was planned for making them functional and result oriented in real sense has failed to see the light of the day because of bureaucratic hiccups and slackness.
The Minister for Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq Khan while winding up discussion on the grants of Panchayati Raj Department in the Legislative Assembly during the last Budget Session had announced computerization of Panchayats in order to ensure effective implementation of Electronic Fund Management System. The objective of this system is to ensure utmost transparency in utilization of funds by these grass root level democratic institutions as envisaged in the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
He had also announced to strengthen the Panchayats so that they can come up to the expectations of the common masses and play vital role in the execution of developmental activities at village level. However, there is no perceptible change in the functioning of Panchayats despite transfer of funds, functions and functionaries of several key departments.
As far as computerization of Panchayats is concerned, none of them has been given this vital tool till date and the announcement of the Minister on the floor of the House is seen as mere eye-wash. Though the Minister had few days back announced engagement of over 1000 data entry operators but what role these operators would play in the absence of computers remains a million dollar question.
The computerization of Panchayats is otherwise imperative as all sorts of record vis-à-vis their functioning can be stored properly. The Panchayats are supposed to provide vital services to the people like birth and death certificates etc.
What to talk of their strengthening, large number of these grass root level democratic institutions are even lacking proper space to function in the shape of Panchayat Ghars. Even those Panchayats which have proper accommodation are reeling under basic amenities like water and power supply.
As per the data available with EXCELSIOR, only 20 per cent panchayats are in working condition while as 40 per cent of them lack basic amenities including water and power supply, sitting arrangement and 40% are operating from rented accommodations. How these grass root level elected representatives of the people can perform properly and come up to the expectations of the people in the absence of basic facilities is also a question which the present dispensation has not pondered upon till date despite making tall claims in the official statements.
The Panchayati Raj Minister had also announced that 6 institutes will be opened for imparting training to the Panchs and Sarpanchs so that they can perform their duties in most effective manner. But this announcement has also fallen flat as no such institute has been opened. This is notwithstanding the fact that training is imperative to ensure proper implementation of various provisions of Panchayati Raj Act.
In Jammu and Kashmir, Panchayat elections were held in the year 2011 and since then no refresher course has been conducted by the Rural Development Department to aware the newly elected PR members of their rights and duties.
Though the Government had transferred funds, functions and functionaries of several departments to the Panchayats by stating that this step would empower them sufficiently, no exercise was ever conducted to ascertain whether such a step has yielded the desired steps till date as PRIs don’t feel empowered with this step only.
“The project to computerize the PR system in the State of Jammu and Kashmir is in pipeline”, said a senior official of the Rural Development Department. He added that work on the opening of institutes for the training of the Panchayat representatives is also going on.
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