'Rajiv Gandhi's dream of power to the people yet to be fulfilled'

Speakers at a seminar voiced anguish that though the rural areas of the country have been empowered through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (panchayati raj), Rajiv Gandhi's dreams towards rural India are not fulfilled even after 75 years of Independence. 

At a recent Seminar on 'Panchayati Raj in India: How to Activate them?', organised by Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India (AGRASRI), Tirupati, Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil said Rajiv Gandhi's revolutionary reforms in Panchayati Raj system is unforgettable in the annals of the Panchayati Raj sector in modern India.

Highlighting the various phases of Panchayati Raj system in India with special reference to Karnataka, he regretted that the slogan of Rajiv Gandhi's 'power to the people' has not been completely transformed due to lack of devolution of 3 Fs - Functions, Functionaries and Finances - to the Panchayati Raj Institutions by majority of state governments.

Presiding over the inaugural session of the seminar, Prof BK Chandrashekhar, former Karnataka Minister for Education & Information Technology and former Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council, said that the Panchayati Raj is a hallmark for the sustainable development in rural areas across the nation in all respects and every state government should give top priority to the Panchayati Raj system in delivering better and affordable public services and civic amenities to the people in rural areas.

Chandrasekhar gave a clarion call that the need of the hour is launching the grassroots movement by the elected representatives of PRI's, women leaders, academicians and researchers across the nation for awakening state governments in devolution of powers in 29 subjects, listed in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution.

AGRASRI Director Dr. D. Sundar Ram outlined the aims and objectives of the seminar where a number of technical papers were submitted. The seminar drafted recommendations for submission to the State Governments as well as the Union Government for taking appropriate measures towards strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions in India, as real people friendly and local bodies.