Now local governance in Afghanistan, Indian style

Atmar, the Afghan Rural Rehabilitation and Development Minister, today told Panchayati Raj officials here that Kabul wanted to study the salient features of the system and see what all could be incorporated in their form of local governance called Community Development Shora (Council).

The aim was to come up with a legislation for the model after studying the Indian system. Local government representatives from Afghanistan will visit India to learn facets of the system.

‘‘We want to develop a constitution for our local governance. We want to review our own experience and that of the Panchayati Raj, and come up with a legislation within two months,’’ he added. The Afghans are seeking to study the functions of a panchayat, how it is treated by other government bodies, and division of labour between a panchayat and the public administration.

Atmar said warlords and druglords were against local democratic institutions in Afghanistan, and that his ministry had lost 12 officials in violence in rural areas.

‘‘These are challenges but not that we cannot overcome,’’ he said, adding that human resources crunch was another problem.

Afghanistan was also impressed by Self Help Groups and was looking at replicating them in the country. It was scouting for India’s help in non-conventional energy, small scale industries and rural road sectors. Atmar, who also met officials of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, said two teams of technical experts and sector specialists (on policy matters) would visit Afghanistan soon.

Afghanistan was keen on setting up hydro-power, solar, wind and biogas projects. ‘‘We have 300 hydro-power projects. But 50 per cent have defects. We need to address them quickly and are seeking Indian expertise,’’ he said.