Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said devolution of powers and functions to local bodies was "less than satisfactory" even 26 years after local bodies were empowered Constitutionally.
Speaking on the sidelines of a function here, the Rajya Sabha vice chairman said he had always stressed the need for devoluting of three "Fs"--adequate funds, functions and functionaries--to empower Panchayati Raj bodies.
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed by the Parliament in April, 1993. The amendment provided a Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions in India through insertion of article 243 to Part IX of Constitution.
"Even though it has been more than 26 years since local bodies have been constitutionally empowered, the devolution of powers and functions seems to be less than satisfactory," Naidu said.
He said all the states should review the progress they have made with regard to devolution of powers and see that all the 29 subjects are transferred to the local bodies immediately. "Any further delay would be tantamount to violating the Constitutional mandate," Naidu said.
Naidu also stressed the need to make it mandatory to hold elections to the local bodies every five years without giving any scope to state governments to postpone them.
"Election Commissions in states have the responsibility to ensure that trust in the political system and important institutions of governance is not eroded. They have to ensure purity of elections is never compromised. Similarly, state governments are duty-bound to provide all the resources as per the assessment of SECs in order to help them conduct elections in a free, fair and transparent manner," he added.
Naidu noted that Maharashtra has a very long tradition of social and political reforms.
"Immediately after the formation of new state of Maharashtra, in 1961, the then government constituted the V P Naik committee to study the local self-government apparatus for a more decentralised governance process in the state," the vice president said, adding that the move set an an example for other states.
"One of the striking features of the local government in Maharashtra is the 50 per cent reservation available for women in local bodies," Naidu added.
On the occasion, he also lauded the State Election Commission for instituting "Democracy Awards" to recognise the exemplary work carried out by various people and institutions.
"Participation of people is not limited to contesting elections and taking part in voting every five years. It is also equally important to recognise the efforts put in by various agencies, including the security personnel and civil society organisations," Naidu said.
He also stressed the need to devolve as many functions as possible to the rural and urban local bodies.
"The state governments should undertake electoral reforms, including amending the state laws concerning local self-government bodies, in conformity with the Constitution," the vice president added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that a decision on State Election Commissioner J S Saharia's demand for a state act on the lines of the Representation of People's Act will be taken soon and an ordinance promulgated.
Fadnavis said due to multiple elections and imposition of poll code, the process of development and administration gets hampered.
"If there is a code of conduct in force for 250 out of 365 days in a year, the process of development and administration gets hampered. There is a committee to suggest if all local bodies elections can be held together," he added.
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