Problem:
Under the present system of panchayati raj, the state governments send directives to the panchayats all the time. Because of this the panchayats have turned into a useless government departments processing paper. Instead of tackling the problems of the people of their areas the sarpanchs are busy in taking care of the directives of the government. The directives pertain to the date when the gram Sabha will take place, what will be the agenda of the meeting, what all committees will be formed and how will they be formed and how will they operate? All such decisions are taken in the secretariat of the state governments, located in capital cities, instead of the gram sabhas.
The state governments try to take all small and big decisions related to lives of the people of the village. This has resulted in indifferent attitude of members in the work of Sabha, in loss of freedom of the gram sabhas and its panchayats.
It probably is believed by the government that people on the village level need spoon feeding and if left to them then it will result in a state of chaos. They will not be able to take decision on the issues of education, health care, warehousing products, irrigation and many others in their villages. This is a far fetched thought because there are plenty of examples where villagers have proven that they could administer, if given a free hand.
It is the business of Government to govern but government displays inept and shoddy handling of the administration. It interferes with peoples lives on all levels small and big. Result is that people take no initiative in the process of governance and governance, therefore, is no ones baby; neither of the people or of the government.
Suggestion:
The right to give direction to the gram Sabha should be withdrawn from the state government. Panchayats should be treated as the third independent body of administration. State governments should be allowed to send directives to the panchayats once in a while but sending in directives on a regular basis and interfering in panchayat’s day to day activities must be stopped.
Let the people decide what they want. Let them decide what their priorities are and how they would like to deal with the problems that they face. Once they are given freedom to choose, freedom to operate and free funds, they will excel in governing themselves.
Under the present system of panchayati raj, the state governments send directives to the panchayats all the time. Because of this the panchayats have turned into a useless government departments processing paper. Instead of tackling the problems of the people of their areas the sarpanchs are busy in taking care of the directives of the government. The directives pertain to the date when the gram Sabha will take place, what will be the agenda of the meeting, what all committees will be formed and how will they be formed and how will they operate? All such decisions are taken in the secretariat of the state governments, located in capital cities, instead of the gram sabhas.
The state governments try to take all small and big decisions related to lives of the people of the village. This has resulted in indifferent attitude of members in the work of Sabha, in loss of freedom of the gram sabhas and its panchayats.
It probably is believed by the government that people on the village level need spoon feeding and if left to them then it will result in a state of chaos. They will not be able to take decision on the issues of education, health care, warehousing products, irrigation and many others in their villages. This is a far fetched thought because there are plenty of examples where villagers have proven that they could administer, if given a free hand.
It is the business of Government to govern but government displays inept and shoddy handling of the administration. It interferes with peoples lives on all levels small and big. Result is that people take no initiative in the process of governance and governance, therefore, is no ones baby; neither of the people or of the government.
Suggestion:
The right to give direction to the gram Sabha should be withdrawn from the state government. Panchayats should be treated as the third independent body of administration. State governments should be allowed to send directives to the panchayats once in a while but sending in directives on a regular basis and interfering in panchayat’s day to day activities must be stopped.
Let the people decide what they want. Let them decide what their priorities are and how they would like to deal with the problems that they face. Once they are given freedom to choose, freedom to operate and free funds, they will excel in governing themselves.
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