ITANAGAR, Sep 7: The All Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Parishad (AAPPRP) on Monday submitted a 10-point memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, seeking a series of measures to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and grassroots governance in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Parishad urged the State Government to implement the recommendations of the Third State Finance Commission concerning PRIs within a time-bound framework and sought enhancement and periodic revision of the honorarium of elected representatives of Zilla Parishads and Gram Panchayats.
Among its key demands, the AAPPRP sought establishment of a State Panchayati Raj Resource and Facilitation Centre at Itanagar and construction of dedicated Panchayat Bhawans equipped with office, meeting and digital facilities.
The Parishad also called for a formal protocol and order of precedence for elected PRI representatives. It sought inclusion of security provisions and other entitlements of Zilla Parishad chairpersons in the State Blue Book.
To strengthen decentralised planning and coordination, the AAPPRP demanded that Zilla Parishad chairpersons be designated as chairpersons of District Planning Committees (DPCs). It said the move would help improve coordination between district-level planning and the Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) and Zilla Parishad Development Plans (ZPDPs).
The Parishad further sought department-wise operationalisation of the devolution of the three Fs — Functions, Funds and Functionaries — covering the 29 subjects listed under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.
It also proposed regular monitoring of the devolution process to ensure effective transfer of responsibilities to PRIs.
Another demand was to designate Zilla Parishad chairpersons or District Panchayati Raj Officers (DPDOs) as countersigning authorities for utilisation certificates relating to SoR funds, with the objective of reducing procedural delays and facilitating smoother implementation of development works at the grassroots level.