Date:15/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/15/stories/2007121555380700.htm

Kerala

More public participation sought in Plan process

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Administrative Reforms Committee member V. Ramachandran has stressed the need for increasing public participation in the planning process and evolving better means of accounting in local self-government institutions (LSGIs) in the State.

Inaugurating the international conference on ‘Kerala People’s Plan revisited,’ organised under the joint aegis of the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) with the support of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) here on Friday, Mr. Ramachandran said that the people were confining themselves to the role of bitter critics and refuse to participate in the planning process. Despite trying various models, the accounting system in vogue leaves much to be desired. The accountability of LSGIs too should be improved, he said.

The debate on decentralised planning and development should also focus on its results too. Time has also come to deal with institutions such as the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), which were created during the time of centralised administration. The organisational ability of LSGIs does not match with the powers and functions delegated to them. Most of the LSGIs are not equipped to handle the responsibilities vested with them.

If professionals are entrusted with plan preparation, the thrust would be on certain sectors and otherwise it would be a list of desires of the local members. The need was to strike a balance between the two, he said.