THE CPI(M) state committee of Andhra Pradesh has released it's manifesto for the panchayat elections to be held in two phases on July 12th and 15th. Unlike any other major party in the state, it was CPI(M) alone which came out with a comprehensive manifesto detailing what measures need to be taken to make panchayat system a real form of participative democracy. It made 15 point demands in this regard.

The manifesto attacked Congress, TDP governments for doing everything possible to sabotage the panchayat system in action and contrasted this with the situation in the Left Front ruled states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.

Following are the excerpts from the manifesto :

In modern India the demand for local self government was raised in the year 1909. In that year, the Indian National Congress which met in Lahore, in its political resolutions pronounced the need and importance of local self government. From that day onwards, this demand became an integral part of national movement.

Immediately after independence one expected local governance would be given due importance. But in our constitution, local bodies could find place in concurrent list only. In the absence of constitutional mandate, the ruling classes conveniently neglected the concept itself. In 1959 under Balwant Rai Mehata as chairman, a committee was formed to give suggestions on developing the local self government. On the basis of those recommendations, number of states enacted laws on panchayat raj system with a view to develop local self governments. But unfortunately the concept was diluted to the maximum extent.

In 1978 Ashok Mehta committee was constituted to review the situation and give recommendations. The most important recommendation of this committee was, to provide constitutional validity to the panchayat raj system. However the proposal was kept in cold storage and taken up for implementation only in 1994. The 73rd and 74th amendments provided constitutional guarantee and a three tier panchayat raj system wasput in place. It was also made mandatory that for every 5 years, elections must be held. Reservations for SC, ST and women should be made. However for BC's it was left to the discretion of the states. More importantly it was recommended that state finance commissions should be formed to provide funds to the local bodies.

Inspite of such constitutional changes, very little changed on the ground in Andhra Pradesh, both under Congress rule of 35 years and TDP rule of 13 years.

Under Congress rule for a stretch of 7 years, local bodies were ruled by special officers nominated by the state government. Under TDP rule, elections were held in 1995 but elected bodies worked partially. Because of the callousness of the government, till now there are no local bodies in scheduled areas. A decade passed without elections for Hyderabad municipal corporation and even now no one knows when the elections will take place. TDP tried its best to get the present panchayat polls postponed by indirectly encouraging litigations. After receiving brickbats and directions from the highest court of the land to conduct elections by July end , it was forced to do so.

The new slogan of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his masters World Bank seems to be "Funds and Powers are ours: burdens and responsibilities are yours".

The Chief Minister's talk about devolution of powers and participation of people is nothing but World Bank style decentralisation. His interpretation to peoples participation is freedom to market forces and non participation and withdrawal of government from all activities. Withdrawing from all social responsibilites and transferring those burdens to local bodies is being interpreted as self-government. With this local bodies will become bankrupt and become puppets in the hands of bureaucrats.

Under TDP rule even funds sanctioned by the state finance commission were released only when people’s representatives had to resort to prolonged agitation. Collectors, commissioners and nodal officers have become controllers of local bodies.

CPI(M) feels that under these circumstances some justification can be done to local bodies only if the following actions are taken:

• Elections should be held regularly.
• As stipulated in 73rd and 74th amendments, 29 items for village bodies and 18 items for municipal bodies should be transferred.
• 5o per cent funds must be alloted to the local bodies.
• Planning, implementation and supervision should be handed over to local bodies.
• All powers must be given to panchayats and peoples participation must be encouraged.
• Comprehensive development plan must be chalked out.
• All rural organisations should be brought under the control of local bodies.
• Janmabhoomi works must be executed the control of local bodies.
• Practice of appointing nodal officers must be scrapped.
• Control of in-charge ministers and MLAs on issues within the jurisdiction of local bodies should be removed. The system of in-charge minister should go.
• Corruption in local bodies must be controlled.
• Equal and free participation of weaker sections must be ensured.
• Scheduled area must be declared as autonomous tribal area.
• In tribal areas for every 500 population a panchayat must be formed.