Empower local governing bodies, Moily tells state governments

Udupi, Aug 31 (UNI) The Chairman of Central Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) and former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily today said the ARC report on reforms in Panchayatraj institutions and urban bodies would be submitted to the Centre in the next 15 days.

Speaking at a function here, he said the state governments should be honest about devolution of powers to the grass root level elected representatives. ''They (state government's) should follow in letter and spirit the constitutional provisions in ensuring such transfer of powers. Only by this can we achieve Mahatma Gandhi's vision of 'Poorna Swaraj','' he said.

He said the report strongly recommended the need for empowering the delivery mechanism of the local administrations in all its functioning including healthcare, drinking water, education, sanitation, networking of local self governance, capacity building and training to both elected representatives and the officials.

''There is need for local governance to go hand in hand with local economic reforms,'' he said.

He strongly advocated effective decentralisation of powers and strengthening of these institutions as they were the base for the survival of the democracy.

UNI