Lot needs to be done to empower Panchayats in real terms: PM

Ruing that the bureaucracy is still unwilling to share its powers with elected local bodies, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made a strong pitch for an "immediate change in this mindset" to strengthen and empower Panchayati Raj institutions.
There is "still a lot to be done" to give the Panchayats responsibilities and powers in real terms, he said, addressing a gathering of Panchayat heads from across the country on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Diwas here.
"The purpose of Panchayati Raj is decentralisation under which people get the right to run administration themselves. We have to make efforts so that this does not remain mere a slogan but turns out to be a reality in our life time. For this we will have to give responsibilities and powers to the elected representatives in real terms," he said.

The Prime Minister said, "I frequently receive complaints that the bureaucracy of the Centre and the states still do not like to see their powers being curtailed or share their powers fully with the local bodies. There is a need to immediately change this mindset."
Singh said that local governments can play a key role in development but their success depends on various factors including the capacity of the elected representatives and the decentralisation of power.
The Centre, he said, has allotted around ten times more money in the 12th plan to help the states in their initiatives towards strengthening Panchayats.

The "Centre will implement Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Empowerment Campaign under the 12th plan to strengthen Panchayats. We have allotted more money this time to help the states in their initiatives to strengthen Panchayats and the budgetary support for this purpose has been increased by around 10 times at Rs 6437 crore from Rs 660 crores in the 11th plan.
"I hope that state governments will use this fund thoroughly in strengthening institutions of local self- governance. It is our promise that the central government will provide all possible help to states so that our development process becomes more inclusive and sustainable," he said.