Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil has said that his official notes and letters would be made available on the department’s website. This is being done with a view to bring transparency in his administration.
In an interaction with the media here on Friday, the minister said information that could be made available to the public under the Right to Information would be hosted on the website. However, certain classified information would not be available, he added.
“From today itself, all the decisions taken by the department, the notes I have written on files and letters written by officials would be hosted on the website – www.rdpr.kar.nic.in,” he added.
The minister said that a notification to implement the legislation which gives more autonomy to panchayat institutions has been issued. The same would be implemented after framing the rules.
As per the new law, zilla panchayat presidents are entitled for the MoS status. There is no question of going back on this, he added.
The minister said it is sad that the law was passed in the legislature without much debate. Had it been discussed then people would have got more details about the law. An orientation session would be held regarding the law for the benefit of elected representatives, he said.
When his attention was drawn to the just concluded Council elections, the minister said he was not happy with the manner in which the elections were held. It is time to bring in changes in elections.
In the Rajya Sabha elections, it is open ballot system. Similar system should be introduced for the Council elections too. In addition, there should be a cap on election expenditure, he added.
Published 01 January 2016, 20:05 IST