Sarpanchs need to be accountable
A large amount of funds allocated to panchayati raj institutions are misused through the mutual connivance of the Pradhans and the Govt functionaries
Haryana witnessed a major Sarpanch agitation against the state government. The sarpanchs were on a warpath with the state government on two crucial issues. One, the introduction of an e-tendering process for development works above Rs 5 lakhs and two, the “right to recall” law that allows people to remove a sarpanch if they are not happy with their performance. The state government justified these actions as steps towards “course correction” taken with the intention of bringing transparency and credibility in the working of the Panchayats. They are directly related to the use of developmental funds and the continuation of sarpanches in power.
These remedial measures were suggested by the report submitted by the Haryana Lokayukta Justice, Hari Pal Verma in December,2022. The audit report of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for 2017-18 had also listed many cases of irregular expenditure and account books. The report cited many instances of misappropriation of lakhs of rupees. It found that in most cases the records of panchayats were found missing which were supposed to be in the custody of the sarpanches. It was revealed that nearly 1,100 former sarpanchs had not submitted village development records. The explanation given for this lapse was that the records were either burnt, washed away or soiled. The office bearers of the Association of Sarpances put the blame on the panchayat secretaries who had failed in maintaining and submitting the records to the authorities.
Recently, on the complaint of a resident of Aashiyaki Tappa Jadthal village in Rewari district, an enquiry conducted by Block Development Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Dharuhera, has found the ‘gram scahiv’, Rohit Kumar and former sarpanch Mahesh Kumar guilty of embezzling Rs 7.44 Lakh in the construction of the pathway. Construction work cost Rs 8,37,399 on paper. However, the inquiry revealed that the cost of work was evaluated as Rs 92,692 causing a loss of Rs 7,44,777 to the state exchequer.
The ‘gram sachiv’ has been suspended and orders for recovery of the embezzled amount from the former sarpanch and gram sachiv have been issued. We find that candidates spend a phenomenal amount of money to win the elections for sarpanch in villages. They lure voters by offering gifts, interest free loans, distribution of liquor and sweets. The intention is to win the elections by hook or crook. This will enable me to recover many times the election investment. After getting elected, the sarpanchs indulge in corruption by siphoning away the money allocated for the village’s development.
In order to contain the agitation, the state government announced that sarpances could get development works up to Rs 5 lakh executed on a quotation basis. This was earlier Rs 2 lakh and e-tendering mode would be used for works valued at more than Rs 5 lakh. The honorariums of sarpanches were increased from Rs 3,000/- to Rs 5,000/- and the panches from Rs 1,000/- to Rs 1,600/- by linking these with Dearness Allowance on the lines of government employees. To make the gram scahivs accountable to the sarpanchs, the provision of recording the comments in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of gram sachiv by sarpanches has been introduced. For the social audit of development works in panchayats, a committee would be formed at the village level. This committee would consist of village residents who would keep watch of the development works being undertaken in the village.
A separate engineering wing would be set up for the Development and Panchayat Departments. The panchayats could get works done on quotations for a total amount of Rs 25 lakh in a financial year or up to 50 per cent of the total grant amount of the State Finance Commission, whichever is less. The responsibilities for quality have also been fixed. The technical staff would ensure the quality of the development works through e-tendering. The sarpanches would be responsible for the quality of works carried out on a quotation basis.
The introduction and implementation of the Panchayati Raj system in the 1980s was a landmark decision of the Government headed by then Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi. It led to decentralization of financial powers to the local grassroot representatives- the gram pradhans paving way to the implementation of the concept of “Gram Swaraj” envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi and to ensure the utilization of funds meant for panchayats in a transparent manner.
Through the connivance of government functionaries and pardhans, crores of rupees are disbursed annually to PRIs, of which a large amount is misused. The practice of these practices needs to be checked and those found guilty should be punished. Both elected representatives and the government should discharge their responsibilities honestly and transparently. The Haryana government has done a commendable job in checking malpractices by laying down check and balances. This would help in judicial use of funds at the grassroots level.
(The writer is a senior journalist and Chairman, Panwar Group of Institutions, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The views expressed are personal.)
Source: The Pioneer
