State Panchayati Raj would be working for implementation of District Plan in all the 24 districts of the State from this May to March next year. The purpose of this decentralised plan is to fulfill the dream of developed villages across the State.
“The plan would begin from village, to block moving on to district level. Issues like health, education, sanitation, old age schemes, anganbadi and child welfare are to be covered via this plan. PRI is an integral part of the Government. The panchayats will have to be provided adequate facilities so as to associate them with development,” said State Panchayati Raj Department Secretary Rajeev Arun Ekka.
Ekka also said, “Around 60 percent of children suffer with malnutrition in our state due to lack of health awareness. As a solution to this, Gram Sabha can hold a monthly meeting under the guidance of a local NGO.” A UNICEF staff said, “A demonstration of this plan was practised at East Singhbhum which proved to be a success.”
Comparing the strong Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Advisor to Governor Madhukar Gupta stressed on strengthening the PRI of Jharkhand. He also emphasized on Village Planning Process with joint collaboration of local NGOs and UNICEF.
Gupta informed that the panchayats would be provided with buildings, computer and other necessary items under the Rajiv Gandhi Empowerment Campaign. He said, “There is sufficient fund available for capacity building of PRIs wherein the necessity of training module is required. The Government is already working on decentralization of this capacity building. Grass root development can take place only if active participation of panchayats is given.”
Panchayat Representatives would be given writing skill and computer training under this module. The progressive work of PRIs should be at such a pace that members of other state visit here to learn the work structure of panchayats.
PRI has completed only two years in the state. Despite this fact, members of most of the district PRI face lack of coordination in carrying out the projects concerning gram Sabha.
“We would we providing funds, functions and functionaries to all the 4423 PRIs within one month for beginning the initial phase of this project,” added Ekka.
Since 1993 National Panchayat Day is celebrated every year on April 24. This year it was organized at Vigyan Bhawan. Representatives of six panchayats of the state were felicitated on during this occasion. Bara Amona and Palhalpur panchayats of Dhanbad along with Gomia panchayat of Deoghar were given 12 lakhs each. Pachayat Samiti Nirsa and Madhupur Panchayat had received 20 lakhs separately. Dhanbad district panchayat has got 40 lakhs. These cash amounts would be utilised for the development of the concerned panchayats.
“In order to empower and strengthen the PRIs, State Institute for Rural Development (SIRD) is carrying out various programmes within the State,” said SIRD Director RP Singh.