Himachal Pradesh, December 6:
The process of forming new panchayats in Himachal Pradesh has gained momentum, but the state’s 412 panchayats still lack permanent panchayat secretaries and technical assistants. These panchayats were established in 2020 under the previous BJP government, but permanent appointments for gram rozgar sahayaks (village employment assistants) and panchayat chowkidars (village watchmen) have not been made yet. Most of these panchayats also lack basic facilities such as panchayat houses.
Even after two years of the current Congress government’s tenure, the shortage of staff persists. If new panchayats are formed, it could create more inconvenience than benefit for citizens. Currently, one panchayat secretary is responsible for managing two to three panchayats.
The situation is similar for technical assistants. Additionally, the absence of gram rozgar sahayaks is disrupting work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The state is facing a shortage of financial resources, and if new panchayats are created, it will add extra financial burdens on the state government for constructing panchayat buildings, paying employees’ salaries, and compensating panchayat representatives. It is crucial to note that the central government allocates grants to panchayats for development work based on population, not the number of panchayats. The average population of panchayats in Himachal Pradesh is around 1700, which is much lower than the normal threshold. If new panchayats are formed, the grants from the central government will decrease even further, impacting the development work in these panchayats.
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