----------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT to the Goa Panchayati Raj Act to disqualify the sarpanch who does not comply with any order of the directorate of panchayats perhaps needs a rethink. The sarpanchas are a representative of the people and they are elected to the office by the other representatives of the people. It is of course a matter of increasing concern that a growing number of sarpanchas have not shown the kind of dedication to social service and development of the villages that is expected of them; that there are complaints of favouritism against them; that they are issuing licences and using the panchayats for their material gains. Civil and criminal action needs to be taken against such errant sarpanchas. But certainly that action should be democratic in nature. The directorate is an extension of the state administration and a bureaucratic body should not have the right to take action against an elected representative of the people. Entrusting the task of punitive action against an elected representative to the directorate will be an infringement on the democratic right of the electorate. It is something like state administration penalising a legislator. Even in the case of state administration contemplating to take any action against the legislator, the Speaker of the assembly is informed of it. The directorate of panchayats guides the functioning of the panchayats, but it certainly does not mean that it should be free to take action against elected members. Instead of authorising the directorate to proceed against the erring members or officials of the panchayats, the state government should get down to the task of helping the panchayats evolve a democratic mechanism to penalise the erring sarpanchas. Certainly none will object to penalising an erring or corrupt panchayat member, but it should have to be done keeping intact the dignity of the panchayats as the basic houses of democracy. The action should in no way appear to be an attack on the status and prestige of the panchayati raj institutions. The 73rd amendment to the Panchayati Raj Act brought about during the rule of Rajiv Gandhi proposed to provide a welcome devolution of financial and administrative powers to the panchayats. With growing financial and administrative powers it would be naive to believe that a section of panchayat members would not indulge in corrupt practices or behave in erratic manner. The elected members of panchayats are not heavenly creatures which are forbidden to indulge in corrupt practices. The members participating in the debate over the proposed amendment in the state assembly rightly expressed their anger and disgust at the functioning of the panchayats and came out with the suggestions to make them accountable for the illegalities in their areas. But how to hold the panchayats responsible and whom to make them accountable to for their actions are the two major issues. The state government needs to re-evaluate the functioning of the panchayats and plug the loopholes for corrupt practices. The legislators were agitated over sarpanchas not bothering to demolish the illegal constructions, even after being ordered by the directorate of panchayats. The directorate instead of pursuing the administrative matters on its own could well involve the panchayats. For strengthening the functioning of the panchayats, the government has also fixed a monthly salary of Rs 6500 for the zilla panchayat chiefs, Rs 5500 for vice chairpersons and Rs 2500 for sarpanchas. But the government must ensure that the salaries are paid only to those members who are not employed elsewhere. One of the members rightly sought to know whether the panchas and sarpanchas employed elsewhere would get this benefit. There is no denying the fact that panchayats have become hotbeds for corrupt practices. With so much of financial and administrative powers, the members tend to misuse their position. The manner in which the members invest in the electoral process for getting elected to the panchayats is clear indication of the financial and political clout of these local self-bodies. The Goa government must introduce checks at every step to such misuse. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Editorial in The Navhind Times 21/8/02 page 8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ======================================= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? 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