The panchayati raj system will be strengthened. Effective steps will also be taken to strengthen Kshetra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat,” reiterated Chief Minister Harish Rawat while addressing a State-level conference of Kshetra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat here on Wednesday. During the programme, Rawat said that the three-tier structure is the backbone of the panchayat system. The Gram Panchayat, Kshetra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat all have its own importance.
The programme was organised to venom against the Union Government but situation had gone out of control but Chief Minister managed to steer the programme amicably. It would be pertinent to mention here that 14th finance commission has recommended budget for the Gram pradhan but they did not allocate any budget for other two parts of Panchayat i.e. Kshetra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat.
Rawat said that the Kshetra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat are suffering from the new funding pattern adopted by the Central Government. The Kshetra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat's responsibility is entirely left on the states by the Central Government. Despite the limited resources, the State Government is ready to help financially to the Kshetra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat.
He reiterated that the State Government will provide all possible financial assistance to Kshetra and Zila Panchayats. Block Pramukhs will be invited in BDC meetings on rotation basis. Zila Panchayat will be set as an executive agency for the construction of 1 km roads. We will keep our side before the Central Government on the issues of funding pattern.
The Cabinet Minister Preetam Singh, Chairman of Zila Panchayat Dehradun, Chaman Singh and all the members of Zila Panchayat and Kshetra Panchayat coming from the state were present on the occasion.