Panchayat Raj System a model for Sri Lanka - Prof. Tissa Vitharana

By Shanika Sriyananda

The implementation of a novel model based on Indian Panchayat Raj System, which legislate power to the people at village level would help to solve the ethnic problem, Minister of Science and Technology and Chairman of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC), Prof. Tissa Vitharana who led a delegation to India to study the system claimed adding that there was no proper devolution of power in Sri Lanka and power still remained at the centre.

Here are the excerpts of the interview with Prof. VitharanA:

Q: How does the Panchayat Raj System operate in those two States?

A: The 13 political party representatives spent two days in Delhi where we had a discussion, first with a constitutional expert on the Indian constitution and after that we had discussions, led by the officials from the Home Ministry. This discussion was followed by a lengthy discussion on the system, where its operation throughout India, the way in which it has reached the village and how village people were affected or benefited by the system.

After that we visited the two States Karnataka and KeralA. Karnataka is where the Panchayat Raj System was first implemented in 1977. When they found that it was successful this was passed in Parliament as an Act and then implemented. The best examples for the successful functioning of the system are the Karnataka and KeralA. There were other States that it has been very successful but because of time constraints we were able to visit only these two States.

Q: We had our own ancient system - Gam Sabha - which was one of the very successful systems in the history. Why did Sri Lanka suddenly think of Panchayat system and is it because of pressure emanating from India?

A: Certainly there is no political pressure from IndiA. There is only cooperation in a friendly spirit and I must thank the Indian government for that.

The Grama Sabha system that we had here was very similar to the original Panchayat Raj system that India had. In the original Panchayat system the feudal lords appointed five village elders to maintain law and order and also acted as judges to settle disputes that arose in the village. But what has been done now is completely different and it is done in a capitalism society. It is not just local government and it is an attempt to devolve power. It is not just decisions being taken at the centre and being carried out by administrative apparantus. And it is a system that decision making is given to the people and their representation rights flowing down to village level.

Q: What does Panchayat Raj system mean?

A: In this particular village there was a Panchayat Village Committee which consisted of eight elected representatives. They were from eight wards and each ward consist of 100 families. The elected members in the committee are given 27 functions to improve living conditions in the village, the infrastructure, generate employment and economic development. With these objectives, the functions of those people are clearly defined and funds are provided through the central government and the monetary allocations are based on the size of the population of the village.

Q: How do they find out the needs in the village under this system?.

A: Each ward has a Ward Sabha linked to the Grama SabhA. All people living in the ward need to get together and meet in the presence of the elected Secretary and members to put forward their grievances. Then the grievances will be prioritised according to the needs of the village. The village Committee Secretary is linked at intermediate level, something not quite large as our Pradeshiya sabhA. But may be similar to the original Gam Sabha, we had earlier.

Q: What is the share that is given by the State to the Committee?

A: This is a system that operates from the State budgets (it varies from State to State) but minimum of 30 percent has to be given physically to these village committees to carry out development work. They have a process where the decisions emanating from the people and implemented by their representatives at village level.

The other important aspect is that Grama Sabha meetings has to be re called within six months and the village committee together with the Secretary have to give a progress report. There is a critical appraisal meeting with the people who benefit by the process.

Q: What are the provisions to detect misuse of funds by representatives under the Panchayat system ?

A: If the allocated funds are being misused, villagers protest. Auditing is being done by the people who actually benefit by this exercise. And this to me, who is from the Lanka Samasamaja Party, is a wonderful process.

The other point is that people themselves are able to decide on what they require and make sure that the money allocated for that purpose is properly utilised to reap the full benefit. There is a 'built in system' that will ensure that funds are put into proper use. Most of the work that has been done with shramadanA. Every thing is practically down by the people themselves. They are not going to play out the money. If they do it they suffer.

Q: What are the other special features of the system ?

A: One-third of those who are elected have to be women. And this has helped given empowerment of women. In the village that we visited, all those elected are women. We asked the men why they elected women and they said that women have more time and do a good job. These women are not literate enough but they work in the committee that has placed confidence in them. They have convinced the males to close down the liquor shops.

Q: How do they have elections ?

A: It is a simple majority system. Under this system, no party symbols or colours are used. Individuals come and contest. No doubt that party preferences are influencing but they do not come up as party candidates.

Q: We have our own local concepts like Gramodaya, Gam Udawa, Gami Pubuduwe and Gama Hada Rata Hadamu based on village concepts. Why haven't we done a serious study on these concepts?

A: All those are being done by the officials. The people are not taken into decision making and officials are taking decisions. And that is why they misuse, abuse, and all irregularities take place. Here, devolution is a question of power. And we are, especially, I am from the LSSP, are strongly for empowering the people who have the right to take decisions in matters that concern their welfare.

Q: Are we going to copy the same Panchayat system or draft our own concept?

A: Final draft will be our own solution to the problem.

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