Minister makes various announcements aimed at strengthening Panchayats
Monday, 18 April 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Taking a step aimed at empowering Panchayat representatives, the State’s Panchayati Raj minister Satpal Maharaj announced that Block Pramukhs will be authorised to write the annual confidential report (ACR) of the block development officers. He said that this decision was taken as per the demand of the Block Pramukh organisations to empower the Panchayats in the state. Apart from this, Deen Dayal mini secretariats will also be established to further empower the Panchayats, he announced. The minister was speaking at an orientation workshop on national Gram Swarajya Abhiyan here on Sunday.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he said that under the provisions of the February 16, 2005 government order regarding the block Pramukh sending the ACR of the block development officer to the district development officer which will be recorded as it is will be implemented. It will be recalled that earlier, Maharaj had also raised the demand for authorising the ministers to write the ACR of their departmental secretaries as was done in the past. He further announced at the workshop that each Block Panchayat Pramukh will be provided with a data entry operator as a personal assistant for official works.
The minister also announced that a high powered committee will be formed to further improve the system in Panchayats and empower the public representatives. Public representatives will also be included in this high powered committee. They will visit other states to study the system in Panchayats and the rights of the Panchayat representatives. Maharaj said that the Panchayat buildings in the state will be developed into mini secretariats. In the first stage, the services of the Panchayati Raj department at the Nyay Panchayat level will be facilitated under one roof. These will include online services like birth and death certificates, family register along with other certifications.
Taking cognisance of a long time demand of Panchayat representatives, Maharaj announced that the Gram Panchayat development officers posted in the same block for years will be transferred.
Speaking on the occasion, the Panchayati Raj director Banshidhar Tiwari said that under the guidance of the minister, all possible attempts will be made as per the suggestions of Panchayati representatives to empower the Panchayats. A number of Panchayat representatives also expressed their views on the occasion.
