Wednesday, November 9 2005 17:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Itanagar: The Center will give special monetary incentives to states for empowering panchayat bodies with administrative and financial powers, Union Panchayati Raj Minister Manishankar Aiyar said here today (Nov 9, 2005).

"If you empower panchayat bodies you will get incentives from the panchayat empowerment incentive fund. If you do not the funds will go to other states," he told a workshop here on Panchati Raj institutions in Arunachal Pradesh.

He reminded Chief Minister Gegong Apang that the Common Minimum Programme of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government clearly stated that funds received by the state from the Center for panchayat should reach the grassroot level within two weeks of receipt.

Aiyar disagreed with the Panchayat Raj Minister Jarbom Gamblin that elected panchayat leaders should be trained first before powers were given to them.

The devolution of power and training would go on simultaneously, he said, "You devolve power to them. We will send NGOs and expert teams at our cost to train them how to handle these powers on the spot. They will learn in course of time."

He instructed the state government to release Rs 25 crore it have received from the Center long back for the panchayat institutions.

He said during his 3-day visit to the state he had interacted with panchayat leaders in Tawang and West Kameng districts and other areas and found they were aggrieved because of non-devolution of power to them even after three years of their election.

Aiyar said, he was under the impression that many MLAs were not in favour of devolution of power to panchayat institutions, as they feared that it would erode their power.

MLAs should not be afraid, as devolution of power to panchayat will in fact reduce their burden.

Aiyar said he had just signed a MoU with the Chief Minister to work out a time-bound activity map clearly demarcating powers and functions of MLAs and panchayat leaders for devolution of power to panchayat institutions in the state without delay.

Aiyar said he would visit the state in January to unveil the activity map.

The workshop was attended by MLAs, panchayat members from the state, NGO representatives besides the Chief Minister the Panchayat Raj minister and other ministers.