Local body ward re-division: Development models should also be changed

The idea that real India lives in its villages belongs to Mahatma Gandhi. Whereas, even after the platinum jubilee of independence, our unfortunate experience is that the country lives through officials entrusted with the burden of power. The three-tier local government system comprising village, block and district panchayats is a beautiful example of the transfer of power to the people. Its cornerstone is the concept of model rural development in which, instead of bureaucratic development experiments, the villagers propose the important and essential development models for their village and implement them at the local level. Panchayat wards are the base level of this concept. The government had issued a notification the other day introducing 1375 wards in 941 panchayats as part of the local body ward re-division in the state. This means that the existing 15,962 wards will increase to a total of 17,337.

Though the Reorganisation Commission was appointed to increase one ward each in gram panchayats, when the new wards were reorganised based on population, it increased to up to three wards each in panchayats! Though the population of Kerala was 3.38 crore as per the 2011 census, it is estimated that it may have increased to 3.5 crore in the last twelve years. Therefore, the division of panchayat wards, which is the basic local unit, is essential. However, apart from the fact that when more than 1,000 more wards are created at the panchayat level through such re-division, as many ward members will also be created, there is a question of whether it will in any way have a positive impact on the infrastructure development process.

Apart from the traditional arrangements such as construction of panchayat roads, drains and canals, identification of beneficiaries of welfare pensions and other benefit schemes, eradication of extreme poverty, street lights, installation of drinking water pipes, etc., shouldn't there be a period appropriate development process that has to be implemented in each village by assessing its unique topography, agricultural practices, abundant crops, technical skills of human resource capacity at the local level, etc., as envisaged at the panchayat level and planned with foresight? If there is a group of youth who have acquired expertise and training in a particular technical discipline at the panchayat level, does anyone envision imaginative plans to leverage their skills and make them a part of the rural development process? Wouldn't that be when the nation really starts living in the villages?

There will be an increase of 187 wards in 152 block panchayats in the state and 15 divisions in 14 district panchayats. Along with the division of wards and divisions on the basis of population, it would be good to have a separate guideline on the development models that each panchayat has to undertake on its own and small-scale projects to be started by the ward and divisions on their own. Development projects proposed by the respective wards can be discussed at the panchayat level and approved. However, there is a terrible fact that there is currently no money even for basic things like stray dog breeding control, which is the responsibility of local bodies. That situation has to change. This re-division drive will become a reality only when the process of local development is accelerated.