With less than desired level of exposure to rights for carrying out duties effectively the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are likely to embark on ‘Exposure Visit’ to far-flung places that too in the lap of luxury, courtesy the department of Panchayati Raj & NREP (Special Division). The exercise is to learn the nitty-gritty of the Panchayati Raj system for Mukhias, Upmukhias, Pramukhs etc and imbibe best practices in other States.
The department is in the process of appointing a transporter with fleet of AC and Non-AC buses to carry the representatives to different locations within the State and other parts of the country. The exercise although routine in nature is strange considering the limited sphere in which the PRIs function in Jharkhand.
But the department sought to downplay usefulness of the step in the backdrop of halted devolution of power and in the same vein delinked the visit from the absence of power that is considered an impediment for democratization of rural areas. The process of hiring vehicles will be completed in about a fortnight. “These (devolution and visit) are two different things and have no linkage. Even though there is less devolution of powers the need to learn the style of functioning cannot be denied,” said Assistant Director at Directorate of Panchayati Raj, Ram Kumar Mandal.Even as the tour package is ready as many as four departments — Revenue & land Reforms, Environment & Forest, Rural Development and Arts Sports & Youths Affairs — are yet to devolve power to PRIs. Notably, ten departments have so far delegated part of their powers to the PRIs but the process is far from being completed as the concerned departments have gone into hibernation. “At least we can learn from other states how we can improve our three-tier Panchayati Raj System,” added the Assistant Director defending the move.
The department sends team of PRIs comprising representatives belonging to all social strata for institutional training and field visit to make them understand best practices used in the effective functioning of the three-tier system. As per the arrangement, the Directorate selects institutions for providing training to the representatives functional at grass-root level. This includes face-to-face interaction with the representatives coming from other parts of the country.