More power to panchayats

The Chief Minister said that all funds or grant-in-aid under all schemes like HRDF,pavement of streets,surcharge on VAT,‘Mukhya Mantri Anusuchit Jati Nirmal Basti Yojana’,Special Development Works,State Finance Commission Funds and Central Finance Commission Funds will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of Gram Panchayats through the ‘real time gross settlement’ system. Earlier,the funds used to be routed through the deputy commissioners or additional deputy commissioners.

Hooda said that the gram panchayat will have the discretion to either execute the work itself,directly or through a local contractor. Works estimated up to Rs 10 lakh can be entrusted to the Panchayati Raj Engineering Wing. Works estimated above Rs 10 lakh will be executed by the gram panchayat through the Panchayati Raj Engineering Wing,either departmentally or through a contractual agency by inviting tenders.

The decisions of the panchayats will be taken collectively,and whichever work is to be taken up would be decided by the gram panchayat by passing a resolution. It would not be the sole right of the sarpanch. The other panches and the gram panchayat will be involved,the CM said.

The bank accounts of gram panchayats will be opened with three authorised operators,namely the sarpanch,gram sachiv and Block Development and Panchayat Officer(BDPO) or Social Education and Panchayat Officer (SEPO). Under normal circumstances,the sarpanch and gram sachiv will operate the account jointly,but in case of some complaint of misappropriation of funds,the deputy commissioner can direct the accounts to be operated jointly by gram Sachiv and BDPO or SEPO.

He said that third party inspection of the works will be conducted through the engineering students of government universities,government engineering colleges and polytechnics under the supervision of competent staff of these institutions. The students will be paid stipend for the job.

No withdrawals shall be permissible for advance payments. If any fund is utilized for work other than the sanctioned work,the sarpanch and gram sachiv will be held responsible for the misutilisation and the recovery shall be made from both of them jointly,the CM added.