Research Paper Political Science
E-ISSN No : 2454-9916 | Volume : 8 | Issue : 6 | Jun 2022
ROLE OF GAON PANCHAYATS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF THE NAGAON DISTRICT OF ASSAM Harekrishna Borah Asstt. Professor in Political Science, Thong Nokbe College, Dokmoka, K/A. KEYWORDS Elected Representatives (ERs), Gaon panchayat (GP), National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Panchayati raj Institutions (PRIs), president, State Institute of Panchayat & Rural Development (SIPRD), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),14th Finance Commission.
INTRODUCTION: The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act accorded constitutional status to the Gaon panchayats with 29 specified subjects under its jurisdiction and provisions for specific funds along with fix tenure and time bound election to these local bodies way back in 1993. Though under the provisions of the 73rd constitutional amendment act, the Assam panchayat Act 1994 was passed, it came into operation only in 2001. The last panchayat election in the state was held in December 2018. Just before the election the Assam Panchayat (Amendment) Act 2018 was passed which mandated that for the post of Gaon Panchayat President, a person should be at least HSLC passed. For SC, ST, OBC and MOBC it was fixed at class VIII passed. Thus a new set of leadership with nominal educational background has assumed office in the panchayats of the state. They are entrusted with the huge task of rural development. Capacity building & training of the representatives of the PRIs has become an utmost priority of the Ministry of Panchayati raj. The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) has been insisting on capacity building and training of elected representatives as well as functionaries of the panchayat in order to perform their duties properly. India being a signatory for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has adopted a fresh approach to capacity building & training of elected representatives of panchayats with renewed emphasis on sustainable development. One of the objectives of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) has been development of governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions to deliver on the SDGs. The present study, rationale and methodology: The paper is a part of ongoing research work “Role of State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development in Training of Gaon Panchayat Presidents of Assam” which aims to examine to role played by the SIPRD, Assam in providing training to the elected Gaon Panchayat Presidents of Assam. Based on this broad objective the paper attempts to understand the following objectives: Ÿ
The first objective of the study is to know whether the GP Presidents are aware of the Sustainable Development Goals.
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The second objective of the study is to observe the role played by the GP Presidents in fulfilling SDGs.
METHODOLOGY: The paper is based on the data gathered from both the primary and the secondary sources. The secondary data has been collected from different books, journals, government circulars, guidelines, office orders etc. Data regarding trainings were collected from the SIPRD headquarter, Khanapara and Kahikushi and the panchayat offices of the selected panchayats. Primary data were collected from the gaon panchayat presidents randomly selected for the study from those who have attended training. Respondents of the study are the GP Presidents-who attended the training. Purposive sampling technique was used to pick a total 60 (30 male and 30 female) respondents. In order to get samples from each corner of the district, we have picked up our sample from each block in proportion with the attendance in the training programme. In order to collect primary data from the Gaon Panchayat Presidents a structured interview schedule was used. Study area: Nagaon district is purposively selected for the study as it is the middle district of Assam. Nagaon is a mini Assam in the sense that it is the home of many tribal groups like Tiwa, Bodo, Karbi including tea tribes as well as caste Assamese, Bengali Hindus and Muslims.
According to 2011 census data geographical area of the district is 2287 sq.km. Population of the district is 18.92 lakhs. While 13.09% of the population of the district lives in urban areas 86.91% lives in rural areas. Average literacy rate is 71%. Male literacy rate is 76.51% while female literacy rate is 68.07%. In rural areas literacy rate is 70%. Religion-wise data of 2011 census shows that 43.39% of the population of the district is Hindu while 55.36% are Muslim. SC population of the district is 9.43% while ST population of the district is 4%. The district has 13 Development Blocks- namely Bajiagaon, Barhampur, Batadraba, Dolongghat, Juria, Kaliabor, Kathiatoli, Khagarijan, Lawkhowa, Pachim Kaliabor, Pakhimoria, Raha and Rupahihat. There are 168 Gaon Panchayats in the district. Out of 168 GPs 135GP Presidents participated in the training i.e. 80%. While the Raha block had 100% participation, the Dolongghat block had the lowest participation level with merely 45%. So while picking up respondents we gave importance to the percentage of participation. Thus while we have picked up 7 out of 16 GPs from Raha block, only 2 respondents were picked up from 11 Gaon Panchayats of the Dolongghat block. As against 58 male President, 77 Women President participated in the training. Out of the 77 female and 58 male presidents-who attended the training 30 female and 30 male Presidents were randomly selected. The paper is being organized in two segments. The part I contains a brief Constitutional background, guidelines and provisions relating to powers of the Gaon Panchayat as well as the provisions regarding training for the elected representatives of the PRIs, especially the gaon panchayat presidents. The part-II will be findings and conclusion on the basis of primary data collected from the respondents. PART-I Constitutional Provisions regarding powers of the Gaon Panchayat: The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed with the hope that it will transform our society from feudal to democratic mode by devolving 'power to the people' and alter our democracy from representative to participatory mode. It accorded constitutional status and institutional framework to Panchayats to strengthen grassroots level democracy through elected self-governing local bodies in the rural areas of the country. It also emphasised functional and fiscal decentralisation of powers to achieve good governance through people's participation and thus enabling transparency, responsiveness, equity, efficiency and accountability. Article 243G of the Constitution provides for: “Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayat.- Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by Law, endow Panchayats with such powers and authority and may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats, at the appropriate level, subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to: Ÿ
The preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;
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The implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.”
The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution of India contains 29 subjects which includes Agriculture, including agricultural extension, Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, Minor irrigation, water management and watershed development, Animal Husbandry, Fishery, Social forestry, Poverty alleviation programme, Women and Child Development, Maintenance of community assets etc.
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