Training programme for PRIs concludes

Non-payment of wages in time under MGNREGA, rampant corruption at different levels, effectiveness of e-Shakti project, assistance for development from Finance Commission, non-issuance of identity cards to the PRI’s elected representatives, formation of sub-committees in panchayats and use of Right to Information were some of the issues that cropped up during the five-day training programme for the office bearers of the three-tier panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) held here.

The training programme, which concluded on Friday at Nalanda Open University, Patna, was jointly organized by the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Hyderabad and Prof G P Sinha Centre for Disaster Management and Rural Development, Patna. Participants from Patna, Jehanabad, Begusarai, Purnia, Nalanda and Samastipur, representing the zila parishad, panchayat samiti and panchayats, attended the programme.

The PRI representatives, who saw for themselves the functioning of e-Shakti for MGNREGAduring their field visit at Bhilwara panchayat (Sampatchak block) in Patna district requested the government to introduce the scheme all over the state. They felt that due to non-payment of wages in MGNREGA on a daily basis as also the low wages, it is feared that the scheme may lose its charm.

The PRI representatives admitted the need of formation of sub-committees on important issues for identifying problems and ensuring transparency in implementation of the scheme. They demanded autonomy to panchayats so that more works could be undertaken through the gram sabha.

Delivering the valedictory function, the vice-chancellor of NOU, Jitendra Kumar Singh, said the time has come when all development works need to be seen with disaster angle. Prof R P Singh Rahi, ex-principal, Patna College, briefed the PRI representatives about the schedules in the Indian Constitution where works to be undertaken in panchayats have been identified. Those who spoke on the occasion included Prof S M Raza and Rajan Sinha.