GOVERNMENT OF KERALA
Abstract

Strengthening and Institutionalization of Decentralization - Launching of a Campaign - Orders issued.

PLANNING & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS (A) DEPARTMENT

G.O. (P) No.../2002/P&EA .                                      Dated, Thiruvananthapuram, -09-2002.

Order

      With the launching of the Tenth Five Year Plan and allocation of 1/3rd of Plan resources to Local Governments, decentralization has entered a critical phase during which it has to be institutionalized in order to achieve sustainable local development and to provide good governance at the local level. Government feel that the institutionalization phase should be initiated with a campaign to ensure the participation of all the stakeholders and to develop a consensus on the future course of action.

The objectives of the Campaign are:
  1. To make Government's policy commitments to decentralization unambiguously clear.


  2. To take decentralization from the campaign mode to a phase of institutionalization to make it sustainable.


  3. To focus attention on the needs, opportunities and concerns arising out of experiences so far and devise clear strategies and action plans to address them.


  4. Motivate and guide local governments to concentrate on local development and improve delivery of services avoiding waste and inefficiencies.


  5. To bring about an organic relationship between transferred departments and local governments and bring in role clarity.


  6. To launch a comprehensive capacity building programme going beyond plan formulation and implementation and stressing management, governance and long term development issues.
      Therefore Government are pleased to order that a campaign would be launched from the 1st of November 2002 as outlined in the Annexure.

      Local Self Government Department (Rural, Urban Development) and Rural Development Department would be in charge of implementing the campaign with the support and constant guidance of the State Planning Board. Local Self Government Department would also prepare a detailed Action Plan and the budget in consultation with the State Planning Board for the conduct of the Campaign utilizing as far as possible available resources.

By Order of the Governor,         

S.M.VIJAYANAND               
Secretary to Government (Planning)


  1. The Director of Panchayats.


  2. The Commissioner of Rural Development.


  3. The Director of Municipal Administration.


  4. The Principal Secretary, Rural Development.


  5. The Secretary to Government, Local Self Government (Rural).


  6. The Secretary to Government, Local Self Government (Urban).


  7. All other Principal Secretaries and Secretaries to Government.


  8. The Member Secretary, State Planning Board.

  9. The Director of Public Relations (For immediate press release).


  10. All Chairpersons of District Planning Committees.


  11. All District Collectors & Secretaries to District Planning Committees.


  12. All Presidents/Secretaries of Grama Panchayats.


  13. All Presidents/Secretaries of Block Panchayats .


  14. All Presidents/Secretaries of District Panchayats).


  15. All Mayors/Secretaries of Corporations.


  16. All Chairpersons/Secretaries of Municipalities


  17. All District Planning Officers


Copy to:
  1. The Principal Secretary to Chief Minister.


  2. The Private Secretary to the Minister, Local Self Government.


  3. The Private Secretary to the Minister, Rural Development.


  4. Private Secretaries to other Ministers.


  5. The P.A. to Vice Chairman,, State Planning Board.


  6. Joint Secretary to Chief Secretary.


  7. All Members of State Level Coordination Committee for Decentralised Planning.


  8. Local Self Government Department.


  9. Rural Development Department.


  10. Finance Secretariat.


Annexure 

CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN AND INSTITUTIONALIZE DECENTRALIZATION

  

The Campaign would be launched on 1st of November 2002 and would among other things include the following:
  1. A meeting of the State Development Council would be held.


  2. There would be awareness building on different aspects of decentralization and the local government system..


  3. The message of decentralization would be taken to students through competitions and awareness generation classes.

  4. The next steps to be taken to strengthen decentralization would be finalized with a clear road map.


  5. A final decision would be taken on the recommendations contained in the First Report of the Second State Finance Commission.


  6. The Vision document prepared by the DPCs would be launched in broad based district level seminars.


  7. KILA would organize district level Workshops with the participation of different stakeholders.


  8. A National Workshop would be held as part of the Campaign.


  9. Each Local Government would organize Ward level Campaigns and initiate an important programme during the period.


  10. The following State level programmes would be launched.


    1. A special training programme for strengthening decentralization focusing on elected members and officials.


    2. The Decentralization Support Programme with the assistance of Netherlands Government to be implemented by Institute of Rural Management, Anand.


    3. All departments have to come out with a clear action plan on strengthening decentralization in respect of subjects transferred from them to the local governments. Special efforts are called for in the case of Health, Education and Agriculture and related departments.


    4. An action plan to link research institutions with local governments have to be prepared and implemented.


  11. The following administrative reforms would be implemented during the period.

    1. Conduct of social audit in volunteer Village Panchayats and Urban Local governments.


    2. Develop Citizen Charter in volunteer Village Panchayats and Urban Local governments.


    3. Holding of model Grama Sabhas and Ward Sabhas in volunteer Village Panchayats and Urban Local governments.


    4. Updation of accounts and registers in all local governments by pooling together the personnel required for it.


    5. Holding of Grievance Redressal drives by local governments to clear pending applications, complaints etc.


    6. Operationalization of IT enabled services in selected Municipalities.


    7. The launching of comprehensive data based creation for local level planning including BPL survey.


       The Local Self Government Department would draw up detailed Action Plan for operationalizing the components mentioned above, and taking up other programmes which are relevant to the Campaign. The Budget for the Campaign would also be drawn up by Local Self Government Department utilizing, as far as possible available resources. Local Self Government Department would take necessary steps including creation of the organizational structure required for the conduct of the Campaign. State Planning Board would be associated in the Campaign.