State of Panchayati Raj In Manipur
- Part 1 -

G S Oinam *

Introduction:

Panchayati Raj System in Manipur comes into existence since the time immemorial as an organized institution to provide justice to the villagers by the elders Gram Sabha (Khunja Mipham). However, present Panchayat system of elected representatives in Manipur was introduced in the year 1960 under the provisions of the United Provinces (Uttar Pradesh) Panchayati Raj Act 1947, which was extended to the state.

It excluded from its purview the hill areas, cantonment areas, municipal areas and notified areas. Under this act, a two tier system of Panchayats was established in Manipur Valley. After the attainment of Manipur Statehood in1972, the state government enacted the Manipur Panchayat Raj Act, 1975, which provided for a three tier system of Panchayats in the State comprising of Gram Panchayats at the Gram Sabha level, Panchayat smitis at the block level and Zilla Parishads at the district level, besides Nyaya Panhayets for Judicial purposed. Under the act of 1975 and the Manipur Delimitation of Gram Sabha Rules, 1977, the state government established 107 Gram Sabha, 37 Nyaya Panchayats and 6 Panchayat Samitis.

Pursuant to the passing of 73rd Amendment Act to the Constitution of India, Manipur passed the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act,1994 (Act No.26 of 1994 ) which has come into force on 23/04/1994. This Act again provides for a two tier system of PRI, ie, Gram Panchayat (GP) at the village level and Zilla Parishad at the District level.

The Act extends to the whole of the State of Manipur excluding any area to which the Manipur (Hill areas) District Council Act, 1971 or the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hills Areas ) Act, 1956 extends including Cantonments and Municipalities areas.

High light on present scenario of PRI in Manipur (base on secondary data available)

Elections
Between 1967 and 2007-8, eight elections have been held at regular intervals in 1964, 1970, 1978,1985, 1997 , 2002 and 2007 (to be check )

Functions
As per clause 35 (in respect of Gram Panchayats ) and Clause 61 (in Zilla Parishad ) of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act,1994, all 29 functions listed in the eleventh Schedule have been devolved to the Panchayats. In this regards, a memorandum of understanding has been signed on 5th October 2006 between Hon’ble Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Mani Sanker Iyer and Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh for effective devolution of functions, funds and functionaries.

Active mapping was done in respect of 16 departments for devolution of functions, funds and functionaries. This was approved by the state cabinet and a notification no. 7/1/2005-RD&PR, dated 09/09/2005, was issued in this regard. All department concerned were requested to transfer the activities, schemes, functionaries and funds to the Panchayats as per the active mapping.

So far, only the department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Commerce and Industries, Fisheries and Art and Culture has issued orders operationalzing the active mapping. (GOI 2006). . In pursuance of the state cabinet orders,

Fisheries Department had transferred Rs. 7.00 lakhs for the year 2005-06 and Rs. 6.00 lakhs for the year 2006-07. Horticulture Department had transferred Rs. 8.00 lakhs for the year 2006-07. Likewise, Tribal Development Department had transferred Rs. 15.00 lakhs for the year 2007-08 to the PRIs.

Now, State government is limited to 12 Ministers only as per government Rules. A Minister is enjoying more than two to three portfolios. It is justify and right time to transferring functions, functionaries and funds to Panchayats for decentralized planning as well as better functioning of grass root democracy.

Functionaries
The Active map, which was approved by the state Cabinet, vides its meeting dated the 8th September 2005 lists only 16 of these subjects. Each Zilla Parishad has a chief Executive officer who is selection Grade of the state Administrative services.

Similarly, at the Gram Panchayat level there is Secretary to the Gram Panchayat recruited at the level of the state government in the subordinate services. There is nothing below the secretary of the Gram Panchayat and even the transferred staff members are yet to take their place in the Panchayat.

The disciplinary and other power, however, continue to vest with their respective cadre controlling authorities (GOI 2006). The devolution of functionaries, which has been accepted as the standard, includes a set of features-
* there should be a transfer of all the functionaries operating at who were discharging the functions assigned to the Panchayati Raj Institution, should be transferred to them;
* the administrative control of such transferred staff e.g. approval of tour diary, grant of leave, writing of annual confidential remarks and maintenance of service records, should vest with the Panchyati Raj Institution and they should draw salary from the same; and
* their prospects of promotion should be within the Panchayati Raj bodies in so as practicable.

The ideal situation would be constitution of separate technical and administrative cadres for the Zilla Parishads. Even sub optimal position is that described afore is yet to be realized in Manipur. It is pity to keep on record even the Rural Development & Panchayati Raj department has been transferred 4 staffs each to ZP and one Panchayat secretary to each GPs.

So far, about eight departments have been transferred at the average of two staffs to each ZPs and its staff salary are getting from respective parent department only. This token devolution of functionaries have, however, not been found adequate by the people when visited.

Under NREGA, one more employee called Gram Rozgar Sevak is appointed. In general, the line department officials are generally separated from the Panchayats.

To be continued....