08:00 AM
Thursday, November 6, 2003
The AP State Secretariat, HYDERABAD

In a positive and considered response to the historic One Crore (10 Million) Signature Campaign, the AP State Government invited LOK SATTA and FELG to share their views on empowerment of local governments with the Cabinet Committee on Local Governments.

Following this interaction session, the members of the Committee stated that AP government intends to strengthen local governmentss through substantial transfer of funds, functions and functionaries.

These are welcome initiatives, reflecting earlier public commitments made by the government to empower local governments.

The delegation of LOK SATTA and FELG comprised of Dr. Tulasi Reddy (Former MP and ZP Chairman), Sri Ramachandra Reddy (Former MP) and Sri Sai Reddy (Former ZP Chairman and MLA), Sri DVVS Verma (National Coordinator of Lok Satta and General Secretary of FELG), Sri Bhandari Ankayya (General Secretary of Lok Satta and Presidium Member of FELG), Smt. Pratibha Rao (Coordination Committee Member of Lok Satta) and Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan (National Coordinator of Lok Satta and Coordinator of FELG).

Members of the Cabinet Committee are: Sri Devender Goud (Home Minister), Sri P Ashok Gajapati Raju (Revenue Minister), Sri BV Mohan Reddy (Minister for Urban Development) and Dr N Janardhan Reddy (Panchayat Raj Minister).

[ Scroll down this page and you will find photographs and highlights from the meeting ]

The LOK SATTA and FELG delegation brought to the notice of the Cabinet Committee that so far there has been no true devolution of functions, funds and functionaries to the local governments. The state government claims to have devolved 17 subjects to the local government. However, merely advisory functions have been assigned to the local governments.

Dr. Narayan pointed out that the 1-Crore Signature Campaign clearly reflected the people's desire for all the functions, funds and functionaries (pertaining to the subjects enumerated in the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules of the Indian Constitution) to be transferred with immediate effect.

He stressed that functional delineation among the three tiers of local governments should mark any such devolution.

(Read the Annexures)

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The LOK SATTA/FELG delegation recommended the initiation of district wise allocations in the budget and allocating 50% of the total state government budget to the local governments. This could be implemented without disturbing the existing administrative apparatus.

The delegation also urged the Committee to accept the State Finance Commissions recommendations as binding.

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The members of the Committee expressed the need to ensure accountability in the local governments, which LOK SATTA and FELG endorsed completely. Just as the Union and state governments have accountability mechanisms, similarly the local governments should also have effective accountability mechanisms.

LOK SATTA/FELG proposed the following measures to enhance the accountability in the local governments.

1. An independent Ombudsman to look into all complaints or grievances related to local governments for every district. The Ombudsman shall have the power to take any action, initiate disciplinary proceedings against any local government representative/employee including removal or dismissal. The government shall have no appeal powers.

2. The state should create effective mechanisms for implementation of the Right to Information legislation and make them applicable to all branches of state government and local governments.

3. Proactive implementation of the local government Citizen Charters. The Citizen Charter should clearly outline citizen's entitlements, time frame, and compensation for non-delivery and penalties for the erring employee.

4. A District Audit Unit should be set up independent of local and state governments.

The members of the Committee have cited various administrative problems in transferring functionaries to local governments. The LOK SATTA/FELG delegation agreed that the service conditions of various functionaries with state government should be protected. But the officials transferred to the control of local governments should be treated as being on deputation.

The LOK SATTA delegation further suggested Staff Review Commission could be constituted to go into the details of transferring functionaries to the local governments. The Committee Members were also told that Statutory District Staff Committees to attend to the administrative appeals and grievances of various functiosnaries working with local government can be constituted.

Following their discussion, Sri Goud, Sri Reddy and Dr. JP briefed the media personnel.

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