To,
The Hon,ble President of India,
New Delhi
Subject: Why not a Salary hike for Panchayat Members? – Strengthening the Panchayati Raj and Local bodies’ institution.
Dear Madam,
Member of Parliament Sh.Lalu Yadav appears reasonable when he says that MPs should be paid one rupee more that the Cabinet Secretary. While he is going by the government protocol on hierarchy to justify his demand, this logic can be extended up to the grass root public representatives at Panchayat and ward level, for which there is a greater need if democracy is to be further strengthened in this country.
While the Himachal Pradesh government too has been quick to increase pension benefits of former MLAs. I firmly believe that the local bodies’ Members (Panchayat members and member to municipal bodies) too should also be suitably paid, at least at par with the Panchayat Secretaries of Panchayats and Executive Officers of Municipal bodies.
In the present day scenario, each Panchayat is spending between Rs 70 lakh to Rs 15 crore in one year under NREGA and various other schemes. The Pradhan and the elected members are the agencies which are totally involved in planning, supervising, and executing the works in their respective area. The Pradhan is supposed to be on job every time. He has visitors to meet him; he himself has to visit various offices and to attend various government programmes being performed/ executed in his Panchayat; He is to hold courts to resolve disputes and so on. His duties are endless. But we pay almost nothing to him. This situation should change.
Being a public figure, he or she needs to entertain people who come to meet them. Take for example a simple necessity of offering a cup of tea to anyone who visits a Pradhan. I am sure a Pradhan is not paid a monthly salary enough to support even 10 cups of tea every day. And if he is not courteous, he fears losing goodwill, so looking for alternative means of funding the hospitality is natural.
Paying Panchayat functionaries will give some relief and economic freedom and will surely give some edge over his secretaries and other officials working in his area, like Patwari, Forest guard, teachers etc. I am convinced this act may well help in curbing the deep-rooted corruption in rural development as even people with professional abilities may opt for grassroots politics. As of today, only unemployed educated not very intelligent opt to contest the Panchyat election.
A recent survey by a government agency highlighting that around 80% of Pradhans in the state indulge in corruption, should be reason enough to work out accountability measures, for which settling of salary of the Panches, pradhans and other functionaries of Panchayat Raj can be the first step.
If the institution of Panchayati Raj is to be strengthened, there is need to infuse confidence and sense of duty among people who participate in grassroots democracy. And this confidence will come only when the government shows confidence in the institution, which in turn is possible if Panchayat functionaries get the freedom to work without distractions.
RTI Bureau proposes a one day seminar on this issue. Engaging all the stake holders on this issue; the Panchyat Members, Panchyat Samiti Members, Zila Parishad Members, Members of Nagar Panchyats, Members of Municipal councils/ Corporations, Officials of the Panchyats and Block level and the official of the Municipal Councils/ Corporations, etc.
We seek your participation in this seminar, Madam
Yours truly,
Lawan Thakur, (Cell 94182-03940)
Member RTI Bureau,
88/6, Samkheter, Mandi (HP) 175001 Dates are yet to be fixed.
