States asked to adopt activity mapping

Puducherry, Jan 11 (UNI) The Centre has asked all the states to adopt ''activity mapping'' which will explain the functioning of each of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyer said today.

Talking to newspersons here Mr Aiyer said the Panchayat sector windows will be opened when the revised estimate for 2007-08 was sanctioned and persuemably some activity mapping could be ready in the next six months. The Centre had offered its technical assistance to the states, he added.

''I believe that on the basis of the experience in a dozen other states, it should be possible for us to push the work for activity mapping'', he said.

He said it was not merely a technical question and the activity map in draft form will have to get the cabinet approval.

Then we have to depend on the political will of the establishments to determine how far it will go, he said.

He said his desire is to get the activity mapping done for at least some subjects so that the design of devolution of power become sustainable, he added.

Regretting that Karaikal region was yet to be declared a Backward district while Nagapatinam had already been, he said he would take up the matter with the Centre.

Replying to another question he said as per the recommendations of the 12th Finance Commission Rs 20,000 crore (Four crore each year) has been sanctioned to the states. This amount is meant only for states and the union territories were not entitled to it.

He said for Puducherry he would apprise the Planning Commission and would strive to do something in the next Finance Commission.

UNI