The Hindu Business Line : Involve local bodies to make growth inclusive, says Aiyar

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 17 The Union Panchayati Raj Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Iyer, has called for steps to bring Panchayati Raj institutions to the mainstream in order that accelerated growth becomes inclusive, too.

Inaugurating the Eleventh Plan process of the State here on Friday, Mr Aiyar said the rich still managed to corner benefits of growth that should have normally gone to the underprivileged classes. Equitable growth must be ensured if only to protect a democratic polity.

Mr Aiyar noted that the funds for development projects were being eaten up by the delivery mechanism. Funds apportioned for development should reach the people at all costs.

Local self-government institutions should be the focal point around which the Centrally-sponsored schemes get arrayed for being implemented.

The Centre would hold discussions with the Comptroller and Auditor General to make the process of auditing and accounting more transparent.

Kerala enjoyed a pre-eminent position in decentralised planning. But many States were fast catching up, and Kerala would do well to retain its position.

Decentralised planning

While planning the Constitutional amendment for decentralisation of powers, the then Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, was inspired by the experiments in West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Kerala had managed to emerge successful. But it should try to increase the share of funds reaching the people. The Centre had commissioned A.C. Nielsen to conduct a study on the status of women in local bodies. He urged the State Government to conduct a similar study.

CM address

In his presidential address, the Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, said Kerala was not getting the due financial support and encouragement from the Centre. In fact, it was being wrongly targeted in some instances.

This was most obvious in the finance commission awards. These were fixed without considering the funds devolved by the Government. The Government was apprehensive if this attitude of neglect would get reflected in the agriculture package announced by the Prime Minister.

According to the Local Administration Minister, Mr Paloli Mohammed Kutty, the Centre too should think of devolving some of the powers to the State, taking a cue from the State’s gesture towards the local bodies. The norms for Centrally-sponsored schemes should be amended to suit the requirements of the States so it could be implemented more effectively.

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