Panchayati Raj answer to naxalism, poverty, growth: Aiyer

New Delhi, Dec 13 (UNI) Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shanker Aiyer today spoke of the great and growing divide between the rich and poor,leading to manifold problems of social cohesiveness such as naxalism, and highlighted how the Panchayati Raj system alone could bridge this gap and bring about rural prosperity.

In a reply which spanned for more than two and a half hours on a debate on the subject in the Lok Sabha, Mr Aiyer dwelt at length on the problems plaguing the Panchayati Raj system of governance and how it could be made into an effective instrument of equity and development.

The Minister was replying to a discussion regarding the Report on the 'State of the Panchayats--A Mid Term Review and Appraisal' laid on the Table of the House on November 23, 2006, raised by Mr Basudeb Acharia on December 4, 2006.

Mr Aiyer said naxalism was spreading its tentacles wide and now engulfed a large part of the country, and said an effective functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions alone could go a long way to combat the problem. Such a system would establish emotional bonds among people and enable a more fruitful development to take place, which would take the wind out of the sail of the naxalite movement.

The Minister said the government's initiative to set up rural business hubs would unleash entrepreneurial activity, but regretted that the business houses had not been as forthcoming as was expected.

He said MNCs should not be regarded as a dirty word as they too could play a useful role in this regard, establishing backward and forward linkages.

Mr Aiyer referred to the paradoxical situation where Indian companies had become so strong financially that they were now acquiring companies abroad in an increasing measure and on the other hand, hordes of population continued to live in abject poverty.

He dwelt at some length on a silent but cataclysmic revolution that was underway in rural areas engulfing a large mass of people, which were not below the poverty line but were also not very rich.

He said the revolution related to a new found awareness that had come about this mass of populace who wanted to share the fruits of development as their right. He said the urban elite was unaware of such an event as the media in these areas did not highlight this.

The Minister also spoke about the growing participation of women in the grass-root democratic organisations and how an increasing number were getting elected to them.

But much more needed to be done and the journey was arduous and long. He called upon the State governments to play their role in a more responsible manner in this regard.

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