An expert committee headed by Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar today regretted that Panchayat Raj Institutions have been pushed to the margins in almost all centrally sponsored schemes, and suggested devolution of powers for efficient delivery.
Panchayat raj has also been "seriously suborned" by establishing parallel bodies under the centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) that are neither "embedded" in the panchayat system nor have "organic links" to PRIs, it said.
"Tragically except two schemes -- MNREGA and backward region grant fund -- none of the more than 150 CCS has adequately provided a role for PRIs despite the Cabinet Secretary's explicit direction to all the central ministers concerned..." Aiyar told reporters here.
As a result, all the responsibilities in these parallel bodies goes upward to officers instead of being handled by people in gram and ward sabhas, Aiyar, who is heading the committee on leveraging panchayat raj institutions for efficient delivery of public goods and services, said.
"People at large, who are directly affected by these schemes have thus been alienated from the machinery of governance," he observed.
India's development index also continues to stagnate because of this at about the same position as it was in 1990 at 136 though central spending on CSS has increased by 25 times from Rs 7,500 crore to nearly Rs three lakh crore.
"Only 50 countries out of 186 are worse off than us. Outlays are not commensurate with outcomes," he said and stressed that Constitution should recognise PRIs as institution of self governance.
Noting that fault also lies with "last mile" delivery system of public goods and services, he suggested devolution of powers to such bodies to promote their delivery.
"Our report recommends decentralised planning to reflect local priorities and entrustment to PRIs of responsibility of last mile delivery to PRIS to ensure that people can question their elected representative if things go wrong," he said.
The committee suggested engaging a law ombudsmen to whom complaints can be referred and provision of clear rules and regulations for panchayati raj institutions to function as "collegiate bodies".
