Powers to local bodies a must: CM
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 18 2011:
Government may, at any time, withdraw the powers devolved to the local self governments if powers devolved to the bodies are abused or if the bodies cannot manage financial matters, CM O Ibobi Singh cautioned today, speaking as chief guest at the opening function of a two-day workshop on "Devolution of Powers to District Council and Zilla Parishad" .
Further speaking at the function held at the conference hall of the State Academy of Training, Takyelpat the CM asserted that state government has devolved powers of as many as 25 departments to the Autonomous (Hills) District Councils (ADCs) and of 16 departments to the Zilla Parishads.
The powers of 16 departments have been devolved since 2005 .
The powers given to these bodies can be superseded if an ADC or Zilla Parishad cannot perform competently, or persistently defaults in performance or abuses its powers or its financial position and credit position, and also cannot carry out their duties in accordance with the provisions of the Acts that govern the bodies.
Ibobi said, knowing this, "you should be very very careful" .
The CM said that the SPF government has taken up works to deliver the rights of the people, given in the Indian Constitution, to the people of the state as far as practicable.
The revival of the six ADCs in the hill districts was one of the initiatives taken up by the SPF government to deliver the rights of the people.
The devolution of powers to the ADCs in hill districts and Zilla Parishads in the valley areas was a government effort towards the welfare of the people and government is working out for a more effective mechanism for reaching out the benefits of Central sponsored welfare schemes and projects to people directly, he said.
The success of all these efforts of the government lies in the sincerely of the authorities implementing the works, the CM said appealing the members of the ADCs and Zilla Parishads to take a keen interest in earning knowledge from the workshop and to extend their cooperation in making Manipur a developed state.
The CM lauded the initiative taken by the State Academy of Training in imparting training to the employees and members of elected local bodies from time to time and assured of modernization of the academy to suit with the times.
Education and YAS Minister, DD Thaisii also spoke on the occasion and reminded the people of their responsibility to make the devolution of powers a success.