In a bid to ensure rapid and sustainable development and socioeconomic transformation in rural Odisha, Chief Secretary GC Pati on Wednesday stressed on appropriate training and best practices for empowerment of gram panchayats in the State.
“Adopt participatory model of training and document the best practices followed in best panchayats and integrate them with training so that those can be source of motivation and inspiration for other gram panchayats,” said Pati at a meeting.
The Chief Secretary advised officials of the Panchayatiraj department to ensure that the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Empowerment Abhiyan is implemented effectively across the State.
He also directed the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) under the PR department to prepare a definite action plan for the purpose. The Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Empowerment Abhiyan aims at strengthening the panchayatiraj system, implementation of power devolved to panchayats and participation of more people in the decision making process.
“Hence, the Abhiyan should be best followed under partnership basis and should be able to address issues instead of becoming an information tool or speech oriented programme,” Pati added.
The Chief Secretary also directed SIRD officials to undertake preparation of documentation and visuals on best projects implemented by different panchayats and their work plans.
These documents and visuals will be inspiring for other gram panchayats, he hoped.
The review meeting discussed the proposed empowerment work plans for the year 2014-15. The work plans have included training, capacity building, need for management of panchayat offices, visit of elected representatives to other States, human resource development, visit of panchayat representatives to other gram panchayats in the State, strengthening of institutional system, preparation of gram panchayats for supply of e-service and awareness programme etc.
The total expenditure for all the programmes under the annual work plan for the current year has been estimated at Rs 133.95 crore. While the Central Government will provide 75 per cent of the estimate, remaining 25 per cent will be borne by the State Government, sources said.
Notably, Orissa Gram Panchayat Act was enacted in 1948 and subsequently three tier Panchayatiraj institutions was introduced in 1961. This apart, the provisions of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) PESAs Act have come into force empowering tribal people.