Khattar to transfer development work to panchayat samitis

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced to transfer development work and schemes to panchayat samitis and zila parishads for their effective implementation and monitoring.
These included schemes of the forest, education, irrigation and health.
The step is aimed to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and increase their participation in the development process of the state, an official release said.
Khattar made the announcement at a 'Sankalp Se Siddhi' programme for PRI members at Panchkula, near here. The chief minister also announced that adequate fund would be arranged for panchayat samitis and zila parishads to carry out these works in their respective areas.

He said arrangements of independent offices would be made for zila parishads and block samitis that do not have its own buildings.
Referring to works which would be transferred to the PRIs, Khattar said two plantation schemes of forest department -- Har Ghar Hariyali and Har Gaon Ped Ki Chaon -- would be transferred to the panchayat samitis.

Funds and saplings would be provided by the department. Besides, plantation, the panchayat samitis would also be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of trees, he said.
There are more than 6,500 villages in the state and the department alone could not cover such large number of villages, the chief minister said.

He said that for zila parishads, work for the construction of new buildings for 'anganwadis' and maintenance of existing buildings would be given.
It has also been decided to hand over the mid-day-meal scheme of the school education department to zila parishads for its effective implementation.
Khattar said the state government wants the PRIs to "work as mini government in the villages whereproposals are approved, budget is passed and also the audit is done".
He said that the government has a plan to implement the social audit system in villages with cooperation of PRIs and people.
'Gram Sachivalyas' have been set up in 1,537 villages in the state to provide various citizen centric services to the people. The state government has a target to set up such secretariats in all the state's villages, Khattar said.

The chief minister said there was no dearth of funds with the government for development works and likened corruption to cancer.
The state government is committed to eradicate this menace at all levels and urged the PRIs to come forward and assist the government, he said.