KERALA :

Former Minister for Local Self-Government and an avid advocate of decentralisation of powers K. Kutty Ahmed Kutty is disappointed at the way successive governments handled the Panchayati Raj system.

“Decentralisation of powers has not been implemented as envisaged by the Constitution 73rd and 74th amendment. Power and authority have not been transferred completely to the local bodies as originally conceived by our rulers,” Mr. Kutty told The Hindu from his home at Tanur.

According to him, the panchayats and municipalities functioning as the third tier of the governing system have been reduced to mere ‘development agencies’ to expend the funds sanctioned by the government. “The local self-governments have to seek sanction from the State government for many things, which means that decentralisation of powers and functions has not happened the way it should have,” he said.

Mr. Kutty cited withdrawal of the power to issue licence for opening retail liquor outlets as one instance of the manner in which governments have curtailed the powers and functions of local governments. “This is like clipping the wings of the local self-government,” he said. The powers of local governments to issue investment licences are now vested with the local body secretaries and with the elected councils. “E.M.S. Namboodiripad had sought regulatory powers for the local body governing councils, and not for bureaucrats controlled by the State government,” he said.

“We still have to go a long way. We have not moved an inch after A.K. Antony signed the order giving powers to local self-governments in 29 items. We ought to give more powers to local self-governments managed by our men and women.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> State> Kerala / by Abdul Latheef Naha / April 21st, 2018