The Panchayati Raj institutions in Arunachal Pradesh  can now administer village-level community school education, rural non conventional energy management, agriculture-horticulture and social welfare. Education Minister Takam Sanjoy said the State Finance Commission (SFC) has cleared the proposals.

From now on the responsibility for effectively implementing all centrally sponsored rural schemes will rest with the Zilla Parishads (ZPs).  MLAs and MPs are the ex-officio members of the district rural development agencies and by extension of the Zilla Parishads. The ZP chairpersons have also been empowered to finalize policies and make appointments in their areas of responsibility. This apart, the ZPs will also work in the watershed management and go for the implementation of the water shed projects under the Central schemes.

The Anchal Samitis (AS) will now supervise the education in the community schools and control their management. The day-to-day functioning of the schools and the task of recommending teachers for appointment are the responsibilities of the Gram Panchayats (GPs).

Non-conventional energy source and implementation, selection of the beneficiaries and certification for rural electrification will also come under the purview of the GPs. Besides, the GPs will also identify the beneficiaries of the agriculture and horticulture schemes while identification of the farmers for training will be the responsibility of the AS. In the area of social welfare, GP will select the beneficiaries for the national and state-level old age pension, ex-gratia relief and rehabilitation of the disabled, Swayamsiddha Balika Samriddhi Yojana, Kishori Shakti Yojana and National Family Benefit Schemes.

The ZPs will look after the construction of buildings for Anganwadis with help from the existing agencies like PWD etc, the GP will further select the Anganwadi workers. To streamline the local body system,, all government departments are set to conduct a ‘familiarization programme’ for members of the ZP, AS and GP including the chairpersons. Besides the DRDA staff is also providing secretarial service to the new administrators.

This being the interim arrangement pending the SFC’s final report, the Panchayats, however, will have to work within the rules and regulations formulated by the Centre said minister Sanjoy. He said power to take any disciplinary action against any panchayat functionary would generally remain with the Deputy Commissioners. As the panchayat members are not above the anti-defection law, any violation will be referred to the Court of a district magistrate or Session Judge, Sanjoy said. Minor raped in Aizawl A minor girl was raped by an unidentified person following which an angry mob tried to burn down the hotel where the incident took place. Police said the incident occurred in one of the busiest localities of Aizawl town. The victim was coming back from school when she was forcibly taken inside by a masked man and sexually assaulted. As soon as the news of the crime spread a huge mob gathered outside the hotel and attempted to burn it down. Senior police officials, however, intervened and managed to prevent the mob from doing so. A massive manhunt has been launched to nab the accused, who according to police officials was an employee of the hotel.

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