पंचायतों में धन का दुरुपयोग: प्रधानों और अधिकारियों को नोटिस, साढ़े 12 करोड़ रुपये होंगे वसूल

हिमाचल प्रदेश में पंचायतों में विकास कार्यों में करोड़ों रुपये की धनराशि के दुरुपयोग के मामले में पंचायत प्रधानों और अधिकारियों के खिलाफ वसूली नोटिस जारी किए गए हैं। पंचायतीराज विभाग ने पंचायतों के माध्यम से करीब 150 जन प्रतिनिधियों और अधिकारियों के विरुद्ध बकाया वसूली के लिए नोटिस जारी किए हैं। ऑडिट रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक प्रदेश के 13 विकास खंडों से करीब 1.83 करोड़ रुपये की धनराशि में गड़बड़ियां पाई गई हैं। तत्कालीन पंचायत प्रधान, पूर्व प्रधान, सचिव एवं तकनीकी अधिकारियों से भी वसूली की जानी हैं। इसके अलावा कई पूर्व प्रधानों पर भी गाज गिरना लगभग तय है।

गौरतलब है कि गांवों की तरक्की, विकास एवं निर्माण कार्यों के लिए ग्राम निधि में पंचायतीराज विभाग की ओर से करोड़ों की राशि जारी की जाती है। अक्तूबर 2023 की मासिक ऑडिट रिपोर्ट में ग्राम पंचायतों में दोबारा अनियमितता उजागर हुई है। इसमें केंद्र और प्रदेश सरकार की योजनाओं से कार्य के लिए जारी राशि के दस्तावेजों में गड़बड़ियां पकड़ी गईं हैं। इसके तहत जनप्रतिनिधियों से करीब 1.42 करोड़ और अधिकारियों से करीब 41 लाख की राशि वसूली जानी है। हालांकि सितंबर महीने में सिर्फ अधिकारियों की ओर से महज 1,925 रुपये की वसूली कर राशि ग्राम निधि खाता में जमा करवाई गई है। बता दें कि मंडी, कांगड़ा के बाद शिमला जिला वसूली रिपोर्ट में तीसरे नंबर पर है। इधर जिला पंचायत अधिकारी यशपाल शर्मा ने बताया कि पंचायत प्रधान और कर्मियों से वसूले जाने वाली धनराशि के लिए नोटिस जारी किए हैं। 

Gram Rojgar Sevaks to get 12 casual leave

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anil Sharma told here today said that a provision has been made to provide 12 days casual leave and two days restricted leave annually to the Gram Rojgar Sevaks, appointed at panchayat level under MNREGA by the Rural Development Department on the analogy of other categories under MNREGA.

Women rise in Himachal panchayat politics

Legislation introduced by the Himachal Pradesh assembly in 2008 to improve women's participation in local body elections has started to bear fruit. In the first phase of elections to panchayati raj institutions in the state on January 1, women were elected as pradhans in 348 of the 742 panchayats that went to elections.
However, that is not the only change in grassroots politics of Himachal Pradesh in these panchayat elections. Women, apart from contesting from the 50% seats for them, are giving a tough fight to men in panchayats not reserved for them. The largest number of women pradhans has been elected in Mandi district, where 74 women have been elected to power in the 160 panchayats whose election results have been announced so far.
Even as women have started to be more visibile in panchay elections, their representation in the state assembly continues to be dismal. Of the 68 MLAs in the state, only three are women, including Vidya Stokes and Asha Kumari of Congress and Sarveen Chaudhary of BJP. All four Lok Sabha seats are represented by men.
According to the study 'Women in the Politics of Himachal Pradesh', published in Himachal Pradesh University Journal in 2011, 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts (1993), which reserved 33% seats in panchati raj bodies for women, are a revolutionary landmark in the history of women's participation in politics in India. Himachal Pradesh assembly passing the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill on April 8, 2008, further raised the reservation limit for women in PRIs, or panchayati raj institutions, from 33% to 50% and has further helped the cause.
In these panchayat elections, of the panchayats in 70 Kullu district, women presidents will be heading 22 panchayats. In Bilaspur district, of 51 panchayats, women presidents have won in 29 panchayats. In Hamirpur district, women have won in 31 of 63 panchayats.
In Chamba district, 80 panchayats where results have been announced, women presidents have won in 40 panchayats, while in Una district, out of 80 panchayats, women presidents have won in 44. In Solan district, 24 women have won from 71 panchayats.

In Sirmaur districtm out of 78 panchayats, women have won in 39 panchayats. In Shimla district, women presidents have already won elections in 42 panchayats.
In two panchayats of Jubbal tehsil in Shimla district, women have won from open panchayats defeating their male rivals. At Shong panchayat of Kinnaur district, a woman has emerged victorious from open panchayat.
The largest number of women pradhans has been elected in Mandi district, where 74 women have been elected to power in the 160 panchayats whose results have been announced so far.

Courtesy:TOI

Panchayats elections not to be held on party symbols: Chief Minister

“Har ghar ke chuhle ke piche rajniti ki jaye, yeh mujhe gwara nahin” (I do not like politics to enter in every kitchen) said Virbhadra Singh, adding that as far as possible the people should select their Panchayats representatives unanimously, and only if, there was no consensus on the selection of the candidate, voting should be done.

He said that along with ensuring development and creating goodwill amongst all, the Panchayats representatives should carry everyone along and in the same boat.

Panchayats were playing important role in development and has been an important part of the Constitution, he said, adding that since long Panchayats were involved in settling minor disputes in villages but with the passage of time they were given a Constitutional status with more   powers to ensure upliftment of the people of the rural areas.

Announcing the launching of the month  long Special Sanitation Campaign throughout the State till 31st October, Chief Minister said that it would be carried  keeping in view the targets as set under   ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ to make every Panchayat and local bodies ‘Green and Clean’ and sanitation free.

Community participation in achieving total sanitation is playing significant role in creating awareness amongst the people to adopt measures of cleanliness and to make Himachal a better place to live in, he said.

Exhorting the Panchayat representatives and those of Urban local Bodies and NGOs, Virbhadra Singh said that under this campaign, they should create awareness amongst the masses and take the campaign to the far- flung areas of the State convincing the rural populace about the benefits of construction of toilets and its uses to make their villages total Open Defecation Free (ODF).

The Government is committed to achieve the motto of ‘Swachh Himachal, Swasth Himachal’ (clean and healthy Himachal) as besides assuring cleanliness it also serves the purpose of social security and safety of women and confidence. He said that as per the provision of Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, Panchayats were bound to maintain cleanliness at all costs.

 “I am pleased to notice changes in the society and the way the people have changed their mindset towards adopting sanitation campaigns and awareness programmes ensuring that their surroundings were neat and clean.” said the Chief Minister.

As a step towards motivating the children and the society as a whole, the State Government has started ‘School Swachayata Puraskars’ and ‘Mahila Mandal Protsahan Yojna’, besides ‘Rajya Protsahan Yojna’ for achieving the objectives of sanitation campaigns during its earlier tenure in 2005-06, said Virbhadra Singh adding that every year the State Government was spending a sum of rupees four crore on cleanliness campaigns and to make such campaigns a success. He said that the State Government had also empowered Panchayats to look after the sanitation activities.

He also distributed the prizes to the various Panchayat representatives present on the occasion with Nirmal Gram Puraskar and Sampooran Swachayata Abhiyan. He congratulated the Panchayat representatives for winning the awards and urged them to carry on this mission in times to come. The other Panchayats which were not in the list of awardees should also work hard, he said.

The Chief Minister also evinced keen interest in the exhibition set up by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department in which various NGO’s from as far as Chamba, Kangra, Mandi and other districts had showcased their local products and had displayed the modern techniques for running and construction of toilets in rural areas and other bio-degradable products.

The BDOs Association presented a cheque of Rs. 1.51lakh to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Anil Sharma welcomed the Chief Minister to the function and also honoured him and other distinguished guests on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, he said that Sanitation Mission was the biggest programme being implemented in the State and the PR representatives shoulder their responsibility with great zeal to take Himachal tread towards the Nirmal State. He said that it was a difficult task to dispose of both solid and liquid waste, but the implementing agencies achieved their targets in the larger interest of the State. He thanked the Chief Minister for honouring the occasion.

Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Onkar Chand Sharma, while welcoming the Chief Minister said that there were as many as 21  Panchayats getting the Nirmal Gram awards  as  were notified by Union government  in 2013-14 and similarly 198 Panchayats of various Districts, Sub-Divisions and Blocks were presented the awards under Total Sanitation Campaign. He also detailed about other activities of the department.

Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal and Sohan Lal, Director, RD&PR, Dr. Ajay Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Shimla Dinesh Malhotra were also present on the occasion amongst Panchayati Raj representatives from all over the State.

State to prepare effective Panchayat Development Plans

A meeting regarding preparation of Panchayat Development Plan under 14th Finance Commission Grant was held here on Saturday which was specifically convened to apprise the state government to prepare effective Gram Panchayat Development plans for utilizing Rs. 1800 crore under 14th FC grant which will be provided to the State during five year period starting from this financial year.

Secretary, Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj Mr S.M. Vijayanand made a detailed presentation about the plan. He stressed the need for preparation of the integrated plan utilizing the funds of MGNREGA and own resources of Panchayat.

Mr Onkar Sharma, Secretary, State Rural Development and Panchayati Raj department thanked the union ministry for guiding the State in the preparation of Panchayat Development Plan. He assured the state government would take effective steps to prepare and implement the Development Plan in each gram panchayat of the State.

Director–cum-Special Secretary, Dr. Ajay Sharma, Deputy Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, District Panchayat Officers and Block Development Officers attended the meeting.

No girl child? Then Himachal panchayats won't get funds

Shimla, March 1 (IANS) Determined to check its skewed sex ratio, the Himachal Pradesh government won't fund panchayats if no girl is born in its domain. But there will be rewards for panchayats with a good sex ratio.

Source: IANS

Government to honour 50 Panchayats having better sex ratio

The State Government will honour the 50 gram panchayats of the State who have been successful in improving child sex ratio in the age group of 0-6 years as per the census of year 2011.

Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur disclosed this while presiding over a meeting of Supervisory Board constituted under PC and PNDT Act, 1994 here, today. He said that district level functions would be organised to honour these panchayats and to start with the first function would be organised in Una district.

He said that State Government was committed to ensure strict implementation of provisions of PC & PNDT Act and maintaining the balance in the sex ratio. For creating mass awareness, camps would be organized at district level in which public representatives, Asha and Anganwari workers along with the stakeholders would be educated about the importance of maintaining balance in sex ratio who further would educate the people in their respective panchayats and areas.

He said that the Supreme Court had also recommended the initiatives of Himachal Government for bringing improvement in child sex ratio which reflects the commitment of the State Government.

The Health Minister said that any person could inform or report the cases of illegal abortion or sex determination on toll free number 102. The name of the informer was kept secret and a provision of rewarding him with Rs. 10,000 as incentive had also been made by the government. Such cases could also be reported to CMOs, BDOs, Medical Officers and Police. He also directed the health officials to initiate immediate and strict action against those found flouting the PC &PNDT Act.

Kaul Singh Thakur said that for bringing further improvement in sex ratio in the state, the research work would be assigned to Central University, Dharamshala and first samples would be taken from Una district. He said that Lahaul and Spiti district had excelled in maintaining the best sex ratio in the State where there were 1033 girls against 1000 boys.

The Health Minister directed the CMO’s to organize the meetings of district level supervisory boards on regular intervals.

The members of the board suggested enhancing the incentives to the families adopting family planning measures after the birth of single girl child from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 40,000 and also of those families adopting family planning measures after the birth of two girl child from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000. They also gave their valuable suggestions for making further improvement in the child sex ratio particularly in those areas where there was slight decline as compare to other areas of the state.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health P.C.Dhiman, Director Health Services Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Director, Health Safety and Regulation D.C. Rana and un-official members attended the meeting.

No takers for MNREGS in 68 Himachal Pradesh panchayats

Good income from apple orchards and industrial units has kept people away from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) in 68 panchayats of Himachal Pradesh, resulting into these panchayats turning defaulters in starting even a single work under the scheme during the current financial year that would end in next three months. The state government has now decided to launch special awareness campaigns in these panchayats to motivate people to join the scheme.

The basic objective of MNREGS is to provide for enhancement of livelihood security of households in rural areas of the state by providing 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year. But in Himachal Pradesh in many panchayats finding manpower to execute work under MNREGS has become a challenging task as villagers prefer other jobs than working under MNREGS where only Rs 138 is paid per day.

Shimla district, known as apple heartland of the state, has the maximum 30 panchayats where not even a single work could be started this year due to people's reluctance to provide required labour. Sources said people in Shimla prefer to work in apple orchards than to toil under MNREGS. Sources said that in Sirmaur district 15 panchayats under Paonta sub-division have failed to start work under MNREGS as people are busy working in mines or industries and similar is the case in Solan district.

Officials from the state panchayat department said that earlier there were 151 panchayats in Himachal Pradesh which failed to start required works under MNREGS, thus posing threat of fund lapse besides affecting developmental activities at grassroot level. "After notices were issued to these panchayats for zero performance, around 85 panchayats have now started work under MNREGS while there are 68 panchayats across the state where not even a single work under the scheme has been started," added the official.

Concerned over non-implementation of UPA government's flagship programme in so many panchayats, rural development and panchayati raj minister Anil Sharma had called a meeting to review the situation. Panchayati raj department deputy director B D Sharma said that better job opportunity available to people has resulted into non-availability of labour in panchayats. He said that earning good income from apple orchards, industries and mines, especially in Shimla, Una, Solan, Sirmaur and some other districts, people are reluctant to work under MNREGS where only Rs 138 per day wages are provided for 100 days.

Sharma said as 68 panchayats have not been able to carry even a single work this year, now the department has decided to create awareness among people. He said that awareness programmes would be launched at village level soon. "There is need to motivate people as developmental work should not be affected," he added.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/No-takers-for-MNREGS-in-68-Himachal-Pradesh-panchayats/articleshow/26757270.cms?cfmid=11000000

Village Panchayat Names of Jubbal Kotkhai

Sr. No.	Zilla Panchayat	Intermediate Panchayat	Village Panchayat Code	Village Panchayat Name	Village Panchayat Name(Local Lang.)
1.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2781	ANTI	ANTI
2.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2782	BADHAL	BADHAL
3.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2783	BAG DUMEHAR	BAG DUMEHAR
4.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2784	BAGAHAR	BAGAHAR
5.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2785	BAGHI (ADHIYALA)	BAGHI (ADHIYALA)
6.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2786	BAKHOL	BAKHOL
7.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2788	BARTHATA	BARTHATA
8.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2787	BHOLAD	BHOLAD
9.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2789	DARKOTI	DARKOTI
10.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2790	DEVGARH	DEVGARH
11.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2791	DEVRI KHANETI	DEVRI KHANETI
12.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2792	DHAR	DHAR
13.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2793	GARAWAG	GARAWAG
14.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2794	GILTARI (BP)	GILTARI (BP)
15.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2795	GUMMA	GUMMA
16.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2796	HALAILA (PREMNAGAR)	HALAILA (PREMNAGAR)
17.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2797	HIMRI	HIMRI
18.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2798	JAIPIDI MATA (DEORA)	JAIPIDI MATA (DEORA)
19.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2799	JANOL(RAMNAGAR)	JANOL(RAMNAGAR)
20.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2800	JHAGTAN	JHAGTAN
21.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2801	JHALTA (BP)	JHALTA (BP)
22.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2802	KALBOG	KALBOG
23.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2803	KATHASU	KATHASU
24.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2806	KOTKAYANA	KOTKAYANA
25.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2807	KUDDU	KUDDU
26.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2805	KYARI	KYARI
27.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2804	KYARVI	KYARVI
28.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2808	MAHASU	MAHASU
29.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2809	MANDAL	MANDAL
30.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2810	MANDHOL	MANDHOL
31.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2811	NAGAN	NAGAN
32.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2812	NAKRADI	NAKRADI
33.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2813	NANDPUR	NANDPUR
34.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2814	PANDLI (KOTKHAI)	PANDLI (KOTKHAI)
35.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2815	PANDRANU	PANDRANU
36.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2816	PANOG	PANOG
37.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2817	PARALI	PARALI
38.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2818	PARALI (BADROONI)	PARALI (BADROONI)
39.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2819	PURAG	PURAG
40.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2820	RATNARI	RATNARI
41.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2821	RAWALA KYAR (MELATH)	RAWALA KYAR (MELATH)
42.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2822	RAWIN	RAWIN
43.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2824	SAWRA (SARASWATI NAGAR)	SAWRA (SARASWATI NAGAR)
44.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2823	SAYRI	SAYRI
45.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2825	SHILLI	SHILLI
46.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2826	SOLANG	SOLANG
47.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2827	THANA	THANA
48.	SHIMLA	JUBBAL KOTKHAI	2828	THAROLA	THAROLA