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Udupi : On the occasion of 25^th year of 73^rd Constitutional Amendment  Kundapura Taluk Panchayat Raj Okkoota; Gram Panchayat Hakkotaya Andolana, Karnataka (a state wide movement to strengthen local governance, facilitated by the Concerned for Working Children and is also secretariat) in collaboration with District Administration and Zilla Panchayat, Udupi, and other like-minded organizations are jointly organizing "Gram Swaraj Chinthana-Manthana", a symposium to shed light on and discuss on strengthening of Local Self-Governments, on 23rd Feb 2018 followed by the Convention of elected representatives of local self-governments on 24th Feb 2018 at Rajathadri, Manipal – Udupi District, Karnataka. 

Addressing to media persons at press meet at Press Club, S. Janardhanan said that this year is the 25^th year of the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment which laid the foundation for participatory democracy in the country. The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act enacted in 2016, is considered to be a legislation which upholds the spirit of the 73^rd constitutional amendment. Probably for the first time in the history of Panchayat Raj in India, the devolution of the 3Fs- Finance, Functionaries and Function – to the Panchayats have been ensured to such a great extent legislatively through this Act, as to bring to reality the true intent of the Amendment. It is within this backdrop that Kundapura Taluk Panchayat Raj Okkoota, and Gram Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana, in collaboration with District Administration and Zilla Panchayat, Udupi, and other like-minded organizations have planned to organise a symposium followed by a deliberation to formulate and initiate a way-forward strategy to realise the spirit of the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment Act and Gram Swaraj Act.  The background and details of the programme frame are present below.

Operationalisation of the Gram Swaraj Act is the need of the hour which is critical to enable local Governments to enjoy complete autonomy in planning, execution and implementation of programmes and projects as per the desires of their Gram Sabhas and mould their villages closer to the aspirations of their constituents instead of the dictates of line ministries or State and Central Governments.

 In this connection, it is important to, create awareness to bring changes in practice; build the capacity of elected representatives, officials of local governments and Gram Sabha members. However, more than one lakh elected representatives need to handle this newfound power and recognize their rights and responsibilities with sensitivity, care and the utmost respect. It should not be used to perpetuate corruption, but be harnessed within our Constitutional framework, with caution and transparency, setting an example of good governance for all.

 Keeping all this in mind, the schedule has been planned for 2 days. On the first day, there will be a focused discussion with about 150-200 participants who are deeply engaged with the implementation of Panchayat Raj either at grassroots level, in capacity building and/or policy implementation. The day’s session will focus on the analysis of the 73^rd CA; the implementation status of 73^rd CA in Karnataka; experience and learning from the   Panchayat Raj system in Kerala; developing strategies for strengthening and to operationalize the Gram Swaraj Act.

The panelists for the sessions on day 1 include -Sri V.Y.Ghorpade (Vice-president, Karnataka State Decentralisation and Development Committee, Member of drafting committee of Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act);  Sri Meenakshi Sundaram (Former Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India ) ;  Ms. Nandana Reddy ( Member of Panchayat Raj amendment Act  drafting committee, Convenor –Gram Panchayat  Hakkotaya Andolana); Sri Damodar Acharya ( Co-convener, Gram Panchayat Hakkotaya Andolana );  Sri. S.M.Vijayanand (Retired Chief Secretary, Kerala State Government); and Sri P.P. Balan (Former director- Kerala Institute of Local Administration, and present advisor to Government of Bhutan).

Both days will see the participation of several civil society organizations- EQUATIONS, BREADS, Action Aid, Sugrama, and Jagriti Mahila Okootta. The Second day will involve the participation of 500-600 members representing various Panchayats of the state. The key note address will be by Sri. H.S. Ashokanand (Managing Director, NEKRTC, Kalaburgi, Karnataka), and other speakers for sessions include – Dr. K. Gireesan( Associate Professor, Department of Local Governance, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development; Dr.Jos Chathukulam ( Professor, Sri. Ramakrishna Hegde Chair on Decentralisation and Development, Institute of Social and Economic Change); and Members of Legislative Council (Elected by Local Authorities). On that day feedback will be sought from the participants. A consolidated set of demands and recommendations will be put together and presented to State Government representatives.

Uday Kumar Shetty President of Kundapura Taluk Panchayat Raj Okkoota and Srinivas Ganiga were present during the press meet.