PANJIM, AUG 24
It’ a long way before Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) and UrbanLocal Bodies (ULB) are actually delegated various functions and responsibilities as mandated in the Constitution to empower both with extensive public services in the development and well being of their constituents.
While recommendations of the 1st Goa State Finance Commission (GSFC) pertaining to devolution of functions and finances were not accepted because of the operational difficulties and lack of specific activity mapping, recommendations of the GSFC submitted to the Government are yet to be approved.
Menino D’Souza, Director of Panchayat (DoP) when questioned, said the government has constituted a committee of ministers which will analyse and study the recommendations and report will be placed before the State legislature for approval.
However, he pointed out that it is a complex issue as merely delegation of powers and functions will not solve the problem. “It has to be seen that mechanism has to be created that local self bodies are able to execute those functions,” he says even as PRIs are of the opinion that delay in delegation is more due to lack of “political will” as legislature are reluctant to part with their powers.
The 2nd SFC has emphazised on capacity building in terms of appointment and up gradation of staff pointing out that the technical and professional staff are almost totally lacking in PRIs.
The operational scope of panchayats, zilla panchayats and ULB stands to expand if all the functions as enlisted under Schedule I ofthe Goa Panchayat Raj and for ULB, under Goa Municipalities Act, are delegated to them.
The 1 st GSFC had observed in its report that there was unwillingness on the part of State authorities to devolve functions and finances.
Though progress has been made in deciding as to what extend functions and responsibilities could be transferred to PRIs, it’s unlikely that delegation of finances and responsibilities to PRIs and ULBs will happen any sooner.
For its means State legislatures have to part with some of their functions and responsibilities to empower local self bodies.
