Aiyar expects drastic change in Panchayati Raj

New Delhi, Jun 12 (UNI) The Sub-Committee of the National Development Council (NDS) on Financial and Administrative Empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions(PRIs) today reached a consensus on how the states and the Union Territories would proceed towards empowering the Panchayats.

''We have now a sound basis to move about and empower the Panchayati Raj Insitutions,'' Minister for Panchayati Raj and chairman of the Empowered Sub-Committee told a press conference here after its ever first meeting.

Mr Aiyar expressed the hope that implementation of the action plan chalked out in today's meeting would bring about a drastic change in the Panchayati Raj system across the country in the next two to three months.

''You will see a lot of change in the Panchayati Raj system,'' he said.

He said the Panchayati Raj was a 100 per cent state subject and the role of the Centre was confined only to ensure that provisions laid under the Constitution were fully implemented.

The Sub-Committee, he said, would review the action taken by state governments to empower the PRIs as per the 73rd Amendment.

In today's meeting, a broad understanding was reached on many issues including activity mapping and transfer of funds to panchayats without delay or diversion. It was also decided that the states which had not yet completed activity mapping be given an extension period of three months and issue the necessary notifications in this regard.

It was agreed upon that all Central Ministries dealing with subjects listed in the 11th Schedule will complete their excercise in activity mapping by August this year and specify the activities and responsibilities at each level.

Mr Aiyar said a plan to realise Mahatma Gandhi's dream of Gram Swaraj had been chalked out by the Subjects Committee and efforts were on to implement it.

The proposed plan envisaged improving physical infrastructure, staffing, training, E-Governance and state level capacity building.

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