Independent body for Panchayat polls: House panel reiterates

A Parliamentary panel today voiced displeasure over "casual" reply of the government to its recommendations for exploring the feasibility of having an independent body to conduct Panchayat polls and made a strong pitch for having such a body and also for spreading awareness about programmes of Panchayati Raj Ministry.
The Standing Committee on Rural Development, headed by AIADMK leader P Venugopal in its 12th report which was tabled in both the Houses of Parliament today rued the ministry has not taken panel's recommendation in "right perspective".
In the 12th report of the panel on Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Venugopal said taking into account the need for regular elections of Panchayats throughout the country, the Committee had recommended the government to explore the feasibility of having an independent body like a Central Panchayat Election Commission for conducting the Panchayat polls in the states in free and fair manner.

"In their action-taken reply, the ministry has merely informed the Committee the fact that elections of Panchayats are conducted by State Election Commission under Article 243 K of the Constitution of India.
"The Committee while advising the government for exploring the possibility of an independent election body for Panchayats was well aware of the Constitutional provisions and the idea was to explore as to whether any better alternative mechanism could be put in place...
"The Committee therefore expresses displeasure over such casual reply of the ministry to an important recommendation of the Committee," it said.

Reiterating its recommendation, the panel said it must be explored by the ministry in consultation with all concerned including Ministry of Law and Justice and asked Government to apprise it of steps taken in this regard within three months.

Recalling that the committee had recommended full and optimum utilisation of its budgetary allocations for creating awareness among the rural population, through electronic and print media, the panel noted the reply of the government shows that in "contrary to the recommendation of the committee, not only there was a cut of Rs 10 crore but also a reappropriation of Rs 4.4 crore from media and publicity schemes.
"The committee expresses serious displeasure over the callous attitude of the ministry in this regard and strongly reiterates their recommendation to give full focus on wide publicity...," it said.