New cadre likely in Punjab to empower panchayats

A fortnight ago,the state’s rural development and panchayat department received a letter from the Union rural development ministry,recommending the creation of a separate cadre of panchayat service officers in the state,said an official who did not wish to be named. The letter has been sent to all states.

As per the Centre’s blueprint for empowering panchayats,there should be four officials reporting to the village head: a panchayat development officer,a junior engineer,a data operator-cum-accountant and an assistant extension officer or clerk. The state governments can create more posts as per the specific requirements of panchayats. These officials will directly report to the sarpanch and carry out the executive works in the village. Their recruitment will be done through the State Public Service Commission or Staff Service Selection Board.

The proposed panchayat cadre will monitor and implement all the Central government schemes,such as MNREGA and Antyodaya. The salaries and other allowances of these officials will initially be paid by the Central government with the states taking over the entire burden gradually over eight years.

“The plan springs from the fact that funds provided to the states under Central schemes are often not properly utilised at the village level. At times,the sarpanches do not understand the schemes properly,so these officials could assist them,” said a state government official.

There are 12,800 villages in Punjab and as many panchayats. To start with,it has been suggested that this can new cadre can be formed in the 13 districts that double as parliamentary seats. A senior state government official said,“We are now contemplating that it would not be possible to appoint four officials under one sarpanch as many villages in the state are very small,so we are planning to club two to three villages depending upon their size and population for appointment of officers.” There’s also some concern about duplication of roles as panchayat secretaries and gram sevaks already play a similar role.