Latest news with #73rd
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) urges Pawan Kalyan to release ₹1,121 crore of 15th Finance Commission Funds to Panchayats
CPI(M) Andhra Pradesh State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao on Wednesday (August 6) wrote a letter to Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, urging him to release ₹1,121 crore in funds allocated under the 15th Finance Commission to village panchayats. Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that although the current coalition government released the first instalment of these funds, the second tranche amounting to ₹1,121 crores—released by the Centre over six months ago—has not yet been disbursed, causing distress among local bodies. The other demands include hike in the honorarium of sarpanches from ₹3,000 to ₹10,000 as per the coalition government's election manifesto, prompt processing and clearance of panchayat bills by issuing directions to panchayat secretaries, full devolution of 29 subjects to panchayats as mandated by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, provision of accident insurance coverage up to ₹20 lakh for sarpanches who die while discharging their duties, special funds for development of villages and tribal hamlets in Scheduled Areas, entrusting village panchayats with supervision of the MGNREGS.
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Lessons from the past: on the Chola legacy
The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tamil Nadu had a subtle political message. In his address at the valediction of the annual Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram to mark the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I, he focused on the legacy of the Chola emperor and his father Rajaraja Chola I to underline that contemporary India would be as enterprising as ancient India under the imperial Cholas, in expanding trade, and in guarding India's sovereignty. The festival was also organised to commemorate 1,000 years of the maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola to south-east Asia as well as the construction of the iconic temple, a World Heritage Site. The grandeur of the Chola dynasty is fascinating to recall, but there are other mundane facets of the Chola rule which are of modern relevance — its water management, tax and land revenue collection, and democratic processes. In creating infrastructure, especially, the Cholas hold many lessons. In recent months, there have been fatal accidents involving civic structures. The resilience of the Brihadisvara temples, which have stood tall for over 1,000 years, could provide learnings. Studies show that the southern peninsula was the epicentre of several earthquakes in the last 200-odd years. Archaeologists are of the view that the superstructure of the temples holds the key to modern building techniques when it comes to seismic resilience. A close study of the temples for structural stability can be of immense value in the contemporary context. Apart from focusing on the heritage and culture of the Cholas, India could try and replicate their success in administration. Management of water resources, especially, could be an important learning. The Cauvery delta, where Gangaikonda Cholapuram is located, may experience floods, with a large volume of water draining into the sea without being harnessed for periods of scarcity. More than 30 years have passed since the adoption of the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution, but a large number of local bodies, even in the major cities, are functioning without elected representatives. The celebration is an opportunity for an analysis of the functioning of grassroots-level democratic bodies. Mr. Modi announced that the Centre would install the statues of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola to remind the country of its historical consciousness. But this exercise would have greater purpose if it reminds the country of the administrative acumen of the Cholas, and nudges those in governance to address many of the chronic flaws and problems.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
The need for gender equity in urban bureaucracy
India is in the midst of a profound urban transformation. By 2050, over 800 million people, about half the population, will live in cities, making India the largest driver of global urban growth. As cities expand spatially, economically and demographically, they are rewriting the social contract of a modern India and shaping the future of its democracy and development. In the last three decades, progressive constitutional reforms have advanced gender equity. The 73rd and 74th Amendments mandate 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Governments (ULGs), further strengthened to 50% by 17 States and a Union Territory. Today, women comprise over 46% of local elected representatives (Ministry of Panchayati Raj, 2024), as a rising presence of mayors and councillors. However, the bureaucratic apparatus that implements their decisions remains overwhelmingly male. While women's representation in grass-root politics has increased, administrative cadres (city managers, planners, engineers, police) exhibit a stark imbalance, limiting the ability of cities to respond equitably to all citizens. As we invest in highways, metros, and smart cities, we overlook a foundational aspect of inclusive development — gender equity in bureaucracy. The bureaucratic gender gap Despite more women entering the civil services, the urban administrative architecture remains male-dominated. As of 2022, women constituted just 20% of the Indian Administrative Service (IndiaSpend-2022), with even lower representation in urban planning, municipal engineering and transport authorities. In policing, only 11.7% of the national force are women (Bureau of Police Research and Development-2023), and often confined to desk roles. This gap is cause for concern. In cities, the engagement of women is different. They rely more on public transport, make multi-stop journeys for work and caregiving, and depend on neighbourhood-level infrastructure. An Institute for Transportation and Development Policy and Safetipin study found that 84% of women in Delhi and Mumbai used public or shared transport; it was 63% for men. Yet, urban planning prioritises mega-projects over safe, accessible, neighbourhood-level mobility. A 2019 Safetipin audit across 50 cities found over 60% of public spaces were poorly lit. With few women in policing, community safety initiatives often fail to resonate with women. This underrepresentation is not superficial; it affects outcomes. Women officials bring perspectives shaped by lived realities. Studies by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations and UN Women show that they prioritise water, health and safety, and improve public trust in law enforcement through empathetic enforcement. Gender-sensitive design requires gender-diverse institutions. Missed opportunity in gender budgeting Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB), which integrates gender considerations into public finance, is a promising but underutilised tool in India's urban governance. Introduced globally in the 1990s, GRB recognises that budgets are not neutral and can reinforce inequities if left unchecked. India adopted a Gender Budget Statement in 2005-06, with Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Kerala leading efforts. Delhi has funded women-only buses and public lighting; Tamil Nadu applied GRB across 64 departments in 2022-23, and Kerala embedded gender goals through its People's Plan Campaign. Yet, studies by UN-Women and the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy show that most such efforts suffer from weak monitoring and limited institutional capacities, especially in smaller cities. For many ULGs, GRB remains tokenistic, overlooking essentials such as pedestrian safety or childcare in urban planning. In contrast, countries such as the Philippines mandate 5% of local budgets for gender programmes; Rwanda integrates GRB into national planning with oversight bodies; Uganda mandates gender equity certificates for fund approvals; Mexico ties GRB to results-based budgeting; and South Africa pilots participatory planning to anchor GRB in lived realities. These are not just fiscal reforms but also a reimagining of citizen-centric governance in cities. Building inclusive cities requires moving beyond political quotas to ensure women's presence in bureaucracy. This demands systemic reforms in recruitment, retention and promotion across administrative and technical roles. Affirmative action, through quotas and scholarships in planning and engineering, is key to dismantling structural barriers. Globally, countries as varied as Rwanda, Brazil, and South Korea show the impact of representation. Rwanda boosted maternal health and education spending; Brazil prioritised sanitation and primary health care; South Korea's gender impact assessments reshaped transit and public spaces and Tunisia's parity laws gave women more technical roles, improving focus on safety and health. The Philippines uses gender-tagged budgeting to fund gender-based violence shelters and childcare. Gender-balanced bureaucracies are not about fairness alone. They are essential for building safer, equitable, responsive cities. The cities we deserve As India aspires to become a $5 trillion economy, its cities must also aspire to be more than economic growth engines. They must become spaces of inclusion and equity. Gender must be mainstreamed into planning and implementation through mandatory audits, participatory budgeting, and linked evaluation. GRB should be institutionalised across ULGs, supported by targeted capacity-building. Representation must also translate into agency, and help dismantle glass ceilings. Local gender equity councils and models such as Kudumbashree offer templates, especially for small and transitioning cities. Women are already reshaping governance as elected leaders. They must now shape how cities are planned, serviced and governed. When cities reflect women's lived experiences, they work better for all. To build cities for women, we must start by building cities with women. Karthik Seshan is Senior Manager, Policy and Insights, Janaagraha
Hans India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Revanth Government Hesitating to Conduct Local Body Elections, Alleges BJP in Ayija
Gadwal: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Ayija town have strongly criticized the Telangana state government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, for its continued delay in conducting local body elections. Addressing a press conference organized at the BJP office in Ayija, the town BJP president Kampati Bhagat Reddy accused the state government of intentionally avoiding the elections due to a lack of courage to face the people. He reminded the media that the schedule for these elections was expected to be announced in mid-February this year, yet there has been no progress since. > 'Despite knowing that the delay in conducting local body elections may lead to the stoppage of central government funds, the Revanth government continues to procrastinate,' Bhagat Reddy stated. He emphasized that Panchayati Raj institutions, the third tier of India's democratic governance structure, are being neglected by the state administration. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments were introduced to empower rural and urban local bodies respectively, promoting decentralization, self-governance, and accountability. However, the state government, he claimed, is ignoring this spirit by bypassing elected local bodies and instead routing development activities through various non-representative institutions. > 'Such parallel institutions do not reflect the aspirations and needs of the local population,' he argued, adding that strengthening Panchayats would reduce the financial burden on the state treasury and lead to more sustainable development. Bhagat Reddy accused the government of weakening the financial and administrative autonomy of Panchayats for the sake of maintaining political and economic control, thereby undermining transparency and local governance. He further alleged that the Revanth Reddy-led administration is avoiding elections not only because of public dissatisfaction but also due to internal issues within the ruling party. These include: Failure to implement six key promises made during the elections, A governance paralysis due to the state's reluctance to release funds even for minor works, Lack of coordination among ministers, Public dissatisfaction voiced openly by several MLAs, And the absence of constituency development funds, making it difficult for MLAs to face their constituents. 'Even after more than one and a half years since the expiration of the term of the local body representatives, the government has not provided any clarity on when the elections will be held,' he added. The press meet witnessed participation from other BJP leaders including SC Morcha State Executive Committee member Madanna, Town Vice Presidents Bellamkonda Nagaraju and Veeresh Goud, as well as Lakshmanachari, G. Raghu, Madhavachari, and Raju. They collectively demanded that the state government honor the Constitution, empower local self-governments, and immediately announce the election schedule for Panchayat and municipal bodies.
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Punjab's rural dispensaries crumble amid urban health push, staff freeze
Chandigarh: Despite the Punjab government's push for urban healthcare reforms, rural healthcare in the state remains in crisis. Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government announced new initiatives such as 1,000 additional MBBS posts in the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS), hundreds of rural dispensaries continue to operate without medical staff or basic infrastructure, people familiar with the matter said. A total of 1,186 rural dispensaries were set up in Punjab under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 2006 to provide healthcare through Panchayati Raj Institutions and bring basic medical services closer to villagers. However, a majority of these dispensaries are not functioning as intended. More than 600 dispensaries across the state do not have a single medical officer (MO) posted, leaving rural residents without access to essential healthcare, said an official privy to the matter. Doctors reassigned, dispensaries neglected In 2017, a total of 129 dispensaries were transferred from the rural development department to the health department in a bid to improve management. However, many of the medical officers were reassigned to primary health centres (PHCs) and urban health centres (UHCs), leaving the rural dispensaries understaffed and dysfunctional. Currently, only 530 rural medical officers (RMOs) work under the zila parishads, insufficient to cover all the rural healthcare centres. In areas like Mansa, Bathinda, Sangrur and Ferozepur, rural residents are forced to travel 30 to 40 kilometres to access basic medical treatment. Amarjeet Kaur, a resident near Barnala, said: 'Our dispensary opens only occasionally and there is no doctor. We are given a few tablets, but for serious illness, we have to go to the city.' No staff recruitment Health workers and rural residents say there has been no recruitment for rural dispensaries in over a decade. Rajesh Sharma, secretary of the Rural Medical Services Association (RMSA), criticised the Punjab government for ignoring rural healthcare needs. 'While urban areas get more clinics and facilities, village dispensaries are being ignored,' Sharma said. 'Bureaucrats, backed by urban doctors with vested interests, have misinformed political leadership, stalling recruitment,' he added. Sharma also raised concerns about the government's announcement of new medical officer posts, suggesting that doctors may not be posted to rural areas. 'In the past, doctors have been assigned to rural centres on paper but continue to work in urban hospitals,' he added. Infrastructure in ruins In addition to staffing shortages, many rural dispensaries lack basic infrastructure such as electricity, water and furniture. There are also issues with medicine supply, with stocks often running out for months at a time. According to a doctor working in rural Punjab, 'there is an erratic supply of medicines. Some dispensaries have medicine for only two or three months a year'. Rural healthcare activists point out that while the SAD-BJP government had made improvements, things started to deteriorate under the Congress government from 2017 to 2022, and now, under the AAP government, the system seems to be in complete neglect. While the rural development minister and secretary could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts, an official from the department acknowledged the issue. 'We are aware of the shortage and have flagged it with higher authorities. We are working on how to fill vacancies and recruit doctors, particularly in remote areas where PCMS doctors are unwilling to work,' the official said, requesting anonymity. The official also mentioned that the department has begun the process of procuring medicines for rural dispensaries and aims to resolve supply chain issues.
