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Spotlight
New Delhi, 11 February
2023
Strengthening Panchayats
PATH TO RURAL REJUVENATION
By Dr Oishee Mukherjee
The recent decision of the Ministry of Cooperation and the
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to establish a primary dairy in every
panchayat in the country in the next three years, is undoubtedly significant. This
would go a long way in not just revitalising the panchayats, but also help the
process of integrated rural development and employment generation, which is
much needed.
The Union Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah while
inaugurating one such diary said that a complete action plan has been prepared
and two lakh primary diaries will be established at the village level across
the country in three years, making India a big exporter in the dairy sector by
connecting the farmers of the country with the White Revolution. It is
understood that in Gujarat, the White Revolution has changed the fortunes of
farmers and Rs 60,000 crore is deposited into bank accounts of about 36 lakh
women annually through Amul. And thus, there is every reason to think
that some other States may emulate the Gujarat example.
The broader question that underlines this decision is the
greater role of the white revolution as also the potential of strengthening the
panchayat system. Such activities would go a long way in reviving the village
economy as also the incomes of farmers. Added to this is the fact that
availability of milk at affordable cost would help children get this vital
drink in villages.
Similarly, Prime Minister Modi has rightly envisaged a
greater role for the panchayats at the recent Water Vision@2027 and asked States
to adopt ways where the ‘water budget’ is prepared at the panchayat level based
on how much water is required in which village and what work can be done for
it. Stating that there was need for water conservation of all local sources of
water, he urged gram panchayats to prepare an action plan for five years, where
a roadmap ranging from water supply to cleanliness and water management should
be considered. In this connection, he called for increasing role of works under
MGNREGS, crop diversification, afforestation, micro-irrigation programme and
conservation of groundwater under the Atal Bhujal Yojana for conserving water
at the base levels.
In fact, he stressed that it was the responsibility of
every State to make water a subject of cooperation and coordination. The
explanation being that: When treated water is reused, fresh water is conserved,
it benefits the entire ecosystem. That’s why water treatment, water recycling
is essential; Our rivers, our water bodies are the most important part of the
entire water ecosystem”, and there’s need to create a network of waste
management and sewage treatment in every state.
Well thought out, but perhaps more needs to be done, given
the additional emphasis being given by the government to skilling, reskilling
and upskilling. The exercise could also be taken up by the panchayats and
training imparted to those who need the same. The importance of this can hardly
be emphasized and those panchayats that can provide space could be taken up for
such training in a phased manner under the supervision of the Ministries of Human
Resource Development and Rural Development in collaboration with State level
agencies.
In this connection, training of farmers to increase
production and productivity as also to concentrate on value-added crops, in
collaboration with the Indian Council Agricultural Research (ICAR) would be of great
help to small farmers. Further, where there is a problem of availability of
water, training could be given to shift to water resistant technologies in
farming. The whole purpose would be to implement the oft-repeated slogan of
‘lab to land approach’ while ensuring that overall yields go up.
The rural economy has been witnessing growth, specially in
the agricultural sector. But considering the huge number of people engaged in
this sector, there is need for technological inputs as also easy availability
of finance. Added to this, the type of crops suitable for each area has to be
identified, which the experts in collaboration with the panchayats can do and
accordingly train farmers. It is mainly the small and marginal who need the
guidance so that they could increase their incomes.
The government should contemplate setting up a panel and
become agents of change. to explore widening the activities of the panchayats
to gear up the process of rural rejuvenation. The panel should identify the
panchayats that have their own buildings and could take up the responsibility
of carrying out additional work as outlined above, preferably in collaboration
with voluntary organisations and educational institutions. One may mention here
that like post offices, which have started banking activities, the panchayats
should also carry out multi-faceted work.
To start with around 100 to 200 panchayats all over the
country should be identified who could take up the additional work. All this is
imperative if the rural sector has to be revitalised as the country cannot
prosper without a vibrant countryside.
Resources are vital for strengthening the panchayats and
the 15th Finance Commission provided Rs 2.97 lakh crore to the States
for distribution to the panchayats during the period 2020-2026 compared to Rs
2.00 lakh crore by the 14th Finance Commission. Apart from
resources, sufficient manpower has to be provided by the States and Union
Territories for effective functioning by the panchayats as an earlier report
pointed out that support staff and personnel in the latter are lacking.
In expanding its activities, the panchayats can create their
own fund. A few months back, the Union government stated that, in terms of
Article 243-1, the Governor shall constitute State Finance Commission to review
the financial position of the panchayats and make recommendations regarding
distribution between the State and the panchayats of the net proceeds of taxes,
duties, tolls etc. leviable by the former, which may be divided between them
and improve the financial position of the panchayats.
The whole objective of strengthening the panchayats is to
gear up the process of rural development, which is vital at this juncture for
economic and social revitalization. Unless the grass-root level
institutions are strengthened, democracy and inclusive growth will not occur.
One needs to recall here Mahatma Gandhi’s objective of making villages
self-sufficient but, over the years, the neglect of the rural economy or it not
being given the priority it deserves largely continues. In such a situation, it
goes without saying that panchayats must become active agents of socio-economic
change and the government ensure that its plans are put into action, proactively.---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature
Alliance)
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