New Delhi, Oct 2 (Inditop.com) Exhorting state governments to strengthen legal provisions and reform panchayati raj institutions to make them effective, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday emphasised that more needed to be done to improve the institutions of local governance.
“The 73rd amendment of the constitution provides that state legislatures should empower panchayati raj institutions as the institutions of local self government and strengthen them so that they can evolve schemes for social justice and economic development,” Manmohan Singh said while commemorating the 50th anniversary of the launch of panchayati raj.
“But these legal provisions have not been used effectively in our country till date,” he maintained while announcing that 2009-10 would be observed as the year of ‘Gram Sabha’ (village councils) that provide direct participation to the people in democracy.
“Even today in many states, the functions, the funds and functionaries have not been delegated effectively to the panchayati raj institutions. We need to reform the system.”
At a function attended by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj C.P. Joshi, the prime minister also rechristened the government’s flagship programme, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
“Mahatma Gandhi gave more emphasis on Gram Swaraj (village autonomy). To name NREGA after him is a humble tribute from us to the father of the nation,” he said.
Manmohan Singh pointed out that it was only through the panchayati raj institutions that the government’s programmes and schemes could be implemented in a transparent and effective manner.
“The central government has to play a major role in the effective functioning of panchayati raj institutions. Implementation of NREGA by the panchayati raj institutions is one such example,” he said.
“Although there may be initial hurdles while delegating new responsibilities to the panchayati raj institutions, it is my firm belief that the outcome will be fruitful and in the interest of the country.”
rounak