The third Finance Commission, which has to go into the devolution and distribution of financial resources to the three tier panchayat raj institutions and also to the urban local bodies, is seriously considering making the panchayat raj system transparent and accountable.
The Commission headed by A G Kodgi held wide ranging discussions with panchayat functionaries, officials and others concerned to elicit their views on the functioning of the system, here on Thursday.
Speaking to mediapersons at the end of the day-long deliberations Mr Kodgi said that the Commission intends to tour all the 27 districts of the state before finalising its report. The Commission is expected to submit its report to the Governor by the end of December.
The Chairman was accompanied by member Thimme Gowda and Commission secretary K R Shashidhar. Other member of the Commission Mahendra Kanthi did not turn up.
Thimme Gowda pointed out that since the gram panchayats were getting more funds and powers it would be imperative to strengthen them. “Our main concern is proper utility of funds given to gram panchayats. This could be ensured by bringing transparency in their functioning and making them accountable. We are seriously considering it,” Gowda added.
Ombudsman
In order to oversee the functioning of pancahayat institutions and to go into the complaints and grievances there was a dire need to appoint an Ombudsman for every zilla panchayat, Thime Gowda said.He pointed out that the institution of Ombudsman was functioning well in Kerala. The Ombudsman will take care of complaints and initiate action on them. This would further strengthen the system, he said.
The Commission also felt the need for strengthening the system of accounting in gram panchayats. The Commission would supply its own accounting software and provide computers along with operators.
With the advent of employment guarantee scheme the responsibility of the gram panchayats has increased by many fold.
Replying to a question Kodgi said, besides distribution of funds among the panchayat institutions the Commission will also go into the issue of devolution of funds.