ITANAGAR, Feb 18: “Pending elections to the local bodies in the state would be held soon for which the State Election Commission is working overtime” - this was informed today by Chief Minister Pema Khandu while inaugurating the State Level Workshop on Pre-Panchayat Election Awareness Campaign on the topic ‘Leadership Incubation through Panchayati Raj System’ jointly with the Minister Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Bamang Felix here at DK Auditorium of State Legislative Assembly.
The workshop which was conducted jointly by SIRD and PR, Department of Panchayati Raj, ArSRLM and Department of RD also saw participation of Minister Health and Family Welfare Alo Libang, including MLAs.
While mentioning that since the erstwhile three-tier system of Panchayati Raj has been changed to a two-tier system, he urged the officials to equip themselves with detailed knowledge of the new pattern so that they can properly sensitize villagers. “Elections for the first would be conducted for only Gram Sabha and Zilla Parishad. Therefore, it is mandatory that officials are well equipped with the system and the process,” he said.
Khandu asserted that the change was long pending and inevitable after Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged state in 1987 and requested the officials to create awareness on the importance of local bodies so that villagers have a clear understanding while electing representatives. He lamented that benefits of various Central and State flagship programmes are not reaching the grassroots as intended because of the challenges present within the current system but expressed optimism that deserving candidates would become members for a robust PR system and all-round development of rural areas in state.
CM further informed that an all-party legislative meet has been convened on Wednesday that will discuss whether this upcoming PR election can be conducted without involvement of political parties or not. Regretting that in all these years government couldn’t devolve all the 29 functions to the PR members as enshrined in the Constitution, Khandu assured that in coming days this would be done. “Arunachal Pradesh with its vast resources has the potential to develop on all fronts even without central or external aids and we only need to have the will and eligible members in governance. I hope this PR elections would be a new beginning for us in this direction,” he added.

Felix while highlighting the genesis of Panchayati Raj system in state called upon the officials to ensure that planning for awareness campaigns as well as developmental planning after panchayat elections is done with care. Informing that modification from the erstwhile three-tier into a two tier one is in tune with the norms of Central government which suggest states having less than 20 lakh population to have a two-tier system, he expressed confidence that the two-tier pattern would be more efficient and professional while working. Advising officials to work selflessly for upliftment of the rural poor in state, he advised the Department of PR and all concerned departments to ensure proper capacity building of officials in a time-bound manner for the switch over.  
A handbook titled ‘Pre-Election Awareness Campaign Leadership Incubation through Panchayati Raj System’ was also released by the Chief Minister and Minister for RD and PR on the occasion. Secretary RD and PR Govind Jaiswal called upon officials to adhere to timelines concerning generating awareness amongst voters before PR elections and stressed on giving a long-term thrust for capacity building of elected representatives and PR functionaries on record keeping, adherence to financial management norms etc. 
Special Secretary (RD and PR), Director Panchayati Raj, Director SIRD and PR and other senior officials were also present. CMO

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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