The concept of democracy in India is strong, empowered and dates back to the Vedic era. Whether it be Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha elections in India, after the election results the transfer of power has always taken place according to democratic traditions. The Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla said this after inaugurating an outreach and orientation programme for Panchayat representatives here on Friday.
Stating that Panchayati Raj institutions are the strongest pillar of democracy, he suggested that there is a need for framing some rules to make Gram Sabha meetings more effective. For example, advance information about the meeting should be given to all the villagers seven days in advance or in the time period necessary. At least four meetings of the Gram Sabha should be held every year while for the development of the village, a short term and five-year long term schemes should be made. He said that villages which are backward and lack facilities should be chosen in Gram Panchayats. Further, decisions on use of funds should be taken after detailed discussions to ascertain on which important development works is fund to be spent. Birla also stressed on the role of Gram Panchayats in boosting rural tourism. He further suggested that the first hour in the block Panchayat meeting should be conducted like the question hour of the upper house.
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that Panchayats are playing an important role in ensuring social justice and economic development. Stating that the way to empowerment of Indian democracy goes through the Gram Panchayat the CM stressed on the need for further strengthening the economic condition in villages. He further suggested that the Gram Pradhans should also visit those securing the border areas and boost their morale.
The Vidhan Sabha speaker Prem Chand Aggarwal said that decentralised democracy can be strengthened through the Panchayati Raj system. In this era of information technology when e-Vidhan Sabha is being implemented across the nation, Panchayats will also be strengthened by the use of e-governance.
Expressing his views, the State’s Panchayati Raj minister Arvind Pandey elicited focus on the need to consider how to increase the involvement of people and public representatives in the meetings of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat. It is pertinent to mention here that about 42,000 participants from the state’s Panchayati Raj institutions attended the programme.
