A Role of the Panchayat In Rural Development A Study of Madhya Pradesh State

Madhya Pradesh has taken action to ensure the devolution of functionaries pertaining to 8 departments to Panchayats. As a first step, all village level functionaries of Class III and IV in Madhya Pradesh have been declared as ‘dying’ cadres. These include Panchayat Secretaries, primary school teachers, anganwadi workers etc. New appointments to the departments concerned in respect of vacancies caused by retirement, are made by Panchayats, thereby ensuring that progressively all such cadres would consist of staff appointed by Panchayats. Appointments are usually done by the Janpad Panchayat or the Zilla Panchayat on the recommendation of the Gram Panchayat. The Zilla Panchayat has the right to transfer, pay salaries, sanction leave and take disciplinary action. The Gram Panchayat is also empowered to monitor attendance and give its recommendations to the Zilla Panchayat. Lack of employment chance, modern facilities and services for polite living in rural areas results in a sense of shortage and dissatisfaction amongst a large percentage of population and leads to migration of people to urban areas. This is primarily due to the wide gaps in the availability of corporal and social infrastructure between rural and urban areas. In order to address these issues, the Government, in the past has launched various plans at unlike points of time. However, due to several reasons the impact has not been very visible. The deliveries of these plans were not simultaneous and although huge sums were earmarked for capital spending, very little capital were spent on the procedure and maintenance of the assets. Also, each of these plans operated separately and the standards set for communications services delivery in the rural areas was far below those for the urban inhabitants.

The Gram Sabha has the power to monitor. the functioning of the Gram Panchayat.

The Zilla Panchayat (ZP), came into existence subsequent to formation of district. i) Consolidation of Annual Block Plans (within the District) into a District Plan ii) Adding any inter-block work that according to them will be a good source of employment iii) Monitoring and supervision of the MGNREG Scheme in the District iv) Carry out such other functions as may be assigned to it by the State Council, from time to time. Programme Officer at Block level, District Programme Coordinators at District level, State Government and Ministry of Rural Development provide financial and technical support to PRIs to perform their duty as assigned under the Act.

The key compulsions of the Gram Panchayat are as follows:

• Facilitate in the procurement of appropriate permits;

• Assist the concessionaire in obtaining access to necessary communications facilities and utilities;

• Permit the nonviolent use of Site A for mandatory facilities;

• Verifying registration applications

• Registering households

• Issuing Job Card

• Receiving applications for work

• Issuing dated receipts for these applications for work

• Allotting work within fifteen days of submitting the application or from the date when work is sought in the case of an advance application, whichever is later, irrespective of the implementing agency

• Conducting periodical surveys to assess demand for work

• Identification and planning of works, developing shelf of projects including determination of the order of their priority.This list is forwarded to Programme Officer for scrutiny and preliminary approval

• Executing works that shall meet the required technical standards and measurements

• Maintaining records

• Maintaining accounts and providing utilization certificates in formats prescribed by Central/State Government.

• Prepare annually a report containing the facts and figures and achievements relating to the implementation of the Scheme within its jurisdiction and, copy of the same to be made available to the public on demand and on payment of such fee as may be specified in the Scheme.

• Awareness generation and social mobilization.

• Convening the Gram Sabha for planning and social audit.

• Making available all relevant documents

• It recommends works to be taken up and is the final authority to determine the order of priority in which works will be initiated under MGNREGA.

• Monitor the execution of works within the Gram Panchayat.

 It is the primary forum for conduct of social audits. It provides a platform to all residents to seek and obtain all relevant information from all the Implementing Agencies including Gram Panchayat in relation to Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works implemented in the Gram Panchayat area.

• Approve the Block level Plan for forwarding it to the district Panchayat at the district level for final approval;

• Supervise and monitor the projects taken up at the Gram Panchayat and Block level;

• Carry out such other functions as may be assigned to it by the State Council, from time to time.

The State Support Agreement shall be executed between the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), the concerned State Government and the concessionaire. The key obligations of each are highlighted below.

The key obligations of MoRD under the State Support Agreement are as follows: 1. Release the sanctioned payment of the PURA grant to the dedicated bank account operated by DRDA as per the schedule; 2. Release the sanctioned installment of the plan funds [share of MoRD only] to the dedicated bank account operated by DRDA as per the schedule; 3. To ensure that plan Funds are provided even in the event of expiry of the plan before the achievement of Commercial Operations Date; 4. Authorize DRDA to receive and release the share of the ministries in the non-MoRD plans applicable to the Project. Obligations of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) is a social gathering to the indulgence conformity and shall have the following obligations-

An important goal of MGNREGA is to deepen democracy at the grass root level, and bring about greater transparency, responsiveness and accountability in local governance. MGNREGA provides a powerful, legal entitlement and opportunity to realise the objectives of the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution. The Act formally declares the Panchayats at the three levels as "principal authorities for planning and implementation of the Schemes made under this Act" and this provision is backed up by substantial guaranteed resources.

(i) Identifying and mobilizing Below Poverty Line (BPL) households into Self Help Groups (SHGs), with initial priority for poorest and most vulnerable amongst them; (ii) Facilitating Self Help Group (SHG) federation(s) at various levels and providing accommodation and other basic facilities for their effective functioning; (iii) Incorporating and making suitable financial allocations to the priority demands of the SHGs and their federations in the annual plans/activities of the PRIs; and (iv) Coordinating with different departments and agencies on behalf of the SHG network.

Be short of of service chance, modern services and services for civil living in rustic areas results in a sense of absence and dissatisfaction amongst a large proportion of population and leads to relocation of people to urban areas. This is first and leading due to the broad gaps in the ease of use of bodily and communal transportation in country areas. To undertake these issues, the Government, in the past has launched various plans at nothing like points of time. However, due to several reasons the collision has not been very perceptible. The deliveries of these strategies were not instant and though huge sums were earmarked for assets spending, very little resources were spent on the modus operandi and preservation of the property.

1. Draft document on role of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) under Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) Scheme 2. Strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) 3. Status of panchayat raj state profile – madhya Pradesh 4. Panchayat Raj Institutions and Local Development in Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, India: Synthesis of Findings and Recommendations