Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have been relegated to the margins of centrally sponsored schemes, an expert committee set up by government has said and suggested devolution of powers to such bodies to promote efficiency in delivery of public goods and services.

It has also noted that the Planning Commission has not analysed in-depth how effective devolution can ensure a better outcome in sectors dealing with human development and poverty eradication.

The report prepared by the ‘Expert Committee on Panchayati Raj’ will be released by Panchayati Raj Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo in presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Panchayati Raj Day on April 24.

The committee was headed by Rajya Sabha member and former Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.

“Ensuring devolution to panchayats through central government schemes is one sure way of promoting efficiency in the delivery of public goods and services, because the electorate in Gram and Ward Sabhas can and will hold their own elected representatives accountable,” it said.

It also added that the government departments and registered societies have “little or no responsibility or accountability” towards those whom they are supposed to serve.

“Not only PRIs have been relegated to the margins in almost all centrally sponsored schemes, these schemes have promoted proliferation of registered societies and village -level parallel bodies that are answerable to local communities,” it said.

In order to give more powers to the panchayats, the Planning Commission has also issued detailed guidelines through the District Planning Committees to reflect local needs, priorities and endowments of natural and human resources.

But, the committee noted, “Regrettably these clear instructions have generally been observed only in the breach.”

The Expert Committee observed that, “the Planning Commission have not analysed in depth how effective devolution can ensure much better outcomes that have been attained in the 11th Five Year Plan.”

The Committee has presented eight Activity Maps for major centrally sponsored schemes to demonstrate in practical details how the process of devolution functions, finances and functionaries to PRIs.

It has also argued that the principal responsibility for effective devolution of functions, finances and functionaries to PRIs rests not on the state governments, but on the Centre.

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