16th Mar 2018 12:03:AM State
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

ITANAGAR, Mar 15:The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly on its fifth day sitting here today passed three bills namely the Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill 2018 paving the way for amendment of the Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1997, the Arunachal Pradesh Money Lending(Regulation) Bill, 2018 and The Arunachal Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2018 by voice vote.

  While moving the Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill 2018 for passing on the floor of the house, Panchayati Raj Minister Alo Libang informed that the bill would facilitate amendment of the Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1997 (Act No.5 of 2001) with provision of two-tier Panchayati Raj system in consonance with article 243(B) of the constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992.
            The minister said that the state has a long history of Panchayati Raj system initially under NEFA Panchayati Raj Act, 1967 ( Daying Ering Committee) followed by Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1997, adding that since the assent of the President of India to the Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (APPR) Act, 1997 in 2001, the three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions have been constituted thrice in 2003, 2008 and 2013. 


The Panchayats at Gram, Anchal and Zilla level were constituted in 2003 and the provision of three-tier system was adopted to maintain the continuity of system under NEFA Act, 1967, despite provision of two-tier system as per article 243(b) of 73rd Amendment Act, 1992, he said and informed that the amendment has been proposed for a more invigorated and vibrant Panchayati Raj system in state unlike the current system with a provision of two-tier system at Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad level in the light of Article 243(B) of the constitution 73 rd amendment act, 1992 which says that “Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in the state having a population not exceeding 20 lakhs”.
           

Justifying his stand, Libang told the house that the state with a population of 13.84 lakhs (2011 census) need to standardize the use of financial resources due to poor resource base and current state of inadequate participations, the amendment  has been proposed by removing the relevant sections, articles and provisions pertaining to the intermediate panchayats i.e anchal samities for adoption of two tier system as per the provision of Article 243(B) of the constitution stating Panchayat at intermediate level may not be constituted in state with population not exceeding 20 lakhs.
            He also highlighted certain lacunas under the existing system leading to delay in implementation of development plans and policies thus affecting the common masses. The minister hoped that bringing the two-tier system would provide more man power strength in supporting the Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad level and result in emergence of good and efficient leadership.
            Chief Minister Pema Khandu, while advocating for introduction of the two tier system informed that the amendment is necessitated as the present three tier system of Panchayati Raj is not functioning properly due to certain working and structural problems, besides going in tune with Article 243(B) of the constitution to do away with Panchayats at intermediate level in view of less population of the state. Khandu called upon the Panchayat department to work on it and frame rules in consultation with ministers, MLAs and other stakeholders.
            Members including PD Sona, Paknga Bage, Tanga Byaling, Gabriel D Wangsu, Nikh Kamin, Japu Deru, Punji Mara, Takam Pario, Tirong Aboh, Lombo Tayeng, Phosum Khimhun, Kento Rina, Wanglin Lowangdong, Kardo Nyigyor and Ministers Jarkar Gamlin and Wangki Lowang participated in the discussion and advocated for passing of the bill.
Arunachal Pradesh Money Lending (Regulation) Bill, 2018.


Deputy Chief Minister and Minister Finance Chowna Mein informed the assembly that the government has initiated regulating the money lending system in the state and bring about fiscal reform and transparency in the system to ease the sufferings of poor people who are subjected to harassment and torture.
While moving for passing of the Arunachal Pradesh Money Lending (Regulation) Bill, Mein stated that harassment at the hands of money lenders has been increasing in the state at an alarming rate. He said that the ‘boli’ system of money lending which runs without any systematic rules and regulation has affected many families, besides increasing the crime rate and spreading extortion activities. Hence in order to have a strict regulation on the practice, it has become absolutely necessary for the government to take appropriate and stringent social and legal measures to effectively prevent the harassments to the debtors consisting of farmers at the hands of unscrupulous money lenders through a law with better and stringent provisions for regulation and control of transactions of money lending in the state, he said and strongly advocated for passing of the bill.
Participating in the discussion, members Japu Deru, Likha Saaya, Karya Bagang, PD Sona, Tanga Byaling, Techi Kaso, Paknga Bage, Nikh Kamin and Home Minister Kumar Waii supported the bill and sought an effective mechanism in the money lending system for welfare of the poor people. 
Later, the bill was passed by voice vote. The house also passed the Arunachal Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2018 unanimously without any discussion. The bill was moved by DCM and Minister Finance Chowna Mein.
Private Member Resolution:
The state assembly today adopted a private member’s resolution on constituting a high level expert committee to suggest requisite amendments in the existing Municipal Council Act and rules with due modifications for a well defined local urban bodies before conduct of its next election, moved by Pasighat MLA Kaling Moyong. 
While another private member’s resolution seeking effective mechanism for adoption of DRDA contractual employees was withdrawn by the mover Mutchu Mithi without any discussion.
Urban Development & Town Planning Minister Nabam Rebia, while acknowledging the suggestions of the members to reform the Municipal administration informed that government is contemplating for Nagar Panchayat in the state and is working on reforming the Municipal Council Act with setting up of high level committee with senior bureaucrats to make it more accountable for effective administration. He said that though the Municipal council Act was implemented in 2008 at Itanagar and Pasighat, it could not bring out any impact in providing basic civic amenities due to lack of proper planning and accountability and emphasized on reforming the municipal administration for better functioning. 


Earlier, while urging the government for initiating appropriate statutory and administrative reforms to ensure effective and efficient delivery of municipal services, robust accountability, better governance and improved financial management of urban local bodies, Moyong said that due to rapid urbanization, people from rural areas migrated to urban place thus posing much difficulties in management of urban areas due to lack of proper town planning including sanitation, water supply, electricity, disposal of solid-liquid waste management etc. 
Despite implementation of the Municipal Act in two urban cities of Itanagar and Pasighat, no visible impact of Municipal services is seen in the ground level and citizens are suffering due to non functioning of Municipal councils properly, Moyong stated and strongly sought for appropriate requisite reforms to bring about accountability and transparency in municipal administration besides effective implementation of the Municipal Act.
Ziro MLA Tage Taki and Bomdila MLA Japu Deru also supported the resolution while advocating for constitution of a concrete committee to streamline the system of functioning of Municipal council before its next election.
Earlier on the day, the house took up various issues during question hour.
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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
Phone: 0360-2212313

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