No Central proposal for Central Panchayat Service: Aiyar

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar today denied that there was any proposal by his Ministry for setting up a Central Panchayat Service, but added that the exercise, if required, can be undertaken by state governments.

"The Ministry at no time proposed that a Central Panchayat Service ought to be established", Mr Aiyar said at an interactive session here with the Forum of Financial Writers.

Reports indicated that the Centre plans to institute the District Panchayat Administratiive Service to enable the Centre to have direct access to rural India.

Sources said the Ministry of Panchayati Raj had made a presentation to the Planning Commission on March 29,2006, which covered the proposed schemes of Gram Swaraj, Panchayat Empowerment Incentive and Backward Region Grant Fund.

The Ministry's proposal under Gram Swaraj sought financial assisstance so that Panchayats can hire their own staff. On the issue of availability of staff, Mr Aiyar had clarified that most Village Panchayats did not even have the basic personnel for the elementary tasks.

The sources said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had suggested that with the progress in devolution of powers to Panchayats, the states should declare some of their existing staff as dying cadres and replace them with staff locally recruited and appointed by the Panchayat.

"In this respect, it may be recalled that in the First Round Table with respect to the matter of devolution of functionaries had stated that where the devolved activity requires the deputation of State government officials to assisst the elected PRIs in planning or implementing the devolved activity, the officials concerned must be primarily responsible to, and under the disciplinary supervsision and control of the elected authority", the sources said.

The Round Table had said that with a view to building a cadre of officials and technocarts specialised in the developed functions of the PRIs, state governments and Union Territories could consider instituting a Panchayati Raj Administrative and Technical Service, with the state government discontinuing further recruitment of staff to state services for such devoted functions.

The sources said the Ministry had at no time suggested that a Central Pachayat Service be set up.

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