Date:15/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/15/stories/2006101502751000.htm

National

Union Ministries yet to do activity mapping

Aarti Dhar

Exercise for devolution to PRIs

Panchayati Raj Ministry not satisfied with method Partial exercise by Agricultural Ministry

NEW DELHI: Major Central Ministries have not carried out activity mapping for devolution of powers to panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) as required under the 73rd Constitution Amendment.

A status report as on September 4, 2006 indicates that either the ministries have not carried out the exercise or the Panchayati Raj Ministry is not satisfied with the method.

Activity mapping under Article 243 (G) lays down functional responsibility among the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj, essential to avoid confusion and also help in checking corruption. It is to be used for formulation of District Plans, which will be the basis for release of funds under the 11th Plan and the Backward Regions Grant Fund, as per the new Planning Commission guidelines.

While the Department of Secondary and Higher Education under the Human Resource Ministry has not sent any status report, the Department of Elementary Education has told the Panchayati Raj Ministry that a decision has been taken to review the guidelines of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, mid-day meals and the Total Literacy Campaign.

Therefore, activity mapping will also be taken up then.

The Women and Child Development Ministry has sent a report on the Integrated Child Development Scheme, the Balika Samridhi Yojna, Swayamsidha and Swa-shakti schemes. But it only lists the role of PRIs and does not define activity mapping as such.

The Rural Development Ministry has said the matter is being examined with reference to its poverty alleviation and rural development schemes. The Panchayati Raj Ministry is not satisfied with the exercise carried out at the zilla parishad and block parishad levels by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

The Agriculture Ministry has partially carried out the exercise,while the Power Ministry has said mapping activity is applicable only to the recently launched Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna.

Sketchy work

The job by the Social Justice and Empowerment and Tribal Affairs Ministries is sketchy.

The Ministries of Environment and Forests, Home, Statistics and Programme Implementation, Communication and Information Technology, Food Processing Industries, Labour and Employment, Textiles, Culture, Tourism and Development of North-Eastern Region have not carried out the exercise.

The Water Resources Ministry has agreed to prepare a formulation for involvement of panchayats in command areas and major irrigation, as part of Bharat Nirman.