National Consultative Workshop on ‘Status of Devolution to Panchayats’ To be Inaugurated in Goa Tomorrow

Goa: The Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, is set to inaugurate the two-day National Consultative Workshop on the ‘Status of Devolution to Panchayats’ in Goa tomorrow. Organized by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), the workshop, taking place on January 24th and 25th, 2024, aims to discuss and deliberate on the draft report regarding the study conducted by IIPA on the devolution status.

The workshop will be attended by senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Secretaries of the Panchayati Raj Departments of State/UT Governments, along with representatives from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, NITI Aayog, RBI, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The primary focus will be on the draft report, and participants will provide comments and suggestions, contributing to the production of the final report.

IIPA conducted the study based on the terms of references given by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The study identified 26 indicators, reflecting the pillars of devolution to Panchayats – functions, finances, and functionaries (3Fs). Additionally, two more dimensions, namely capacity building and accountability of Panchayats, were added. These dimensions aim to assess the autonomy of Panchayats in making independent decisions and implementing them while remaining accountable to the residents of the area.

The study utilized both primary and secondary sources of data, collected and verified from State Governments, Auditor General Offices, State Finance Commissions, RBI and C&AG reports, and studies from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and NITI Aayog. The comprehensive assessment will provide insights into the comparative status of devolution of powers to Panchayats across various states, facilitating the ranking of states based on this aspect. The workshop’s discussions are expected to contribute significantly to enhancing devolution mechanisms and empowering Panchayats for effective governance.