Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac said that some of the centre-sponsored schemes were emerging as parallel schemes by weakening the local self governance system in the State.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for an upcoming building of District Planning Committee at the Civil Station compound here on Thursday, the minister claimed that the emergence of such schemes would create disintegration in the existing system.
“The Kudumbasree Mission, now encouraged by the State government is a scheme which supports the Local Self Governance and carries out its activities with the consent of the concerned local Self Government body. However, the Janasree Mission, supported by the Central Government, never approves the supremacy of the local bodies,” the minister said. According to him, the formation of such splinter groups, based on one’s political ideology, religion or caste, would create disintegration among people.
Dr. Isaac said the central government was currently going ahead with the plan to introduce such a scheme namely National Livelihood Mission in place of the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana. It is this kind of central schemes which weaken the activities of the Local self governments, he criticised.
Dr. Isaac claimed that Kerala was the only State in the country which fully utilised the benefits of the People’s Planning through the process of decentralisation. Last year alone, the State government dispersed Rs.3, 000 crore to various local self government bodies from the development fund, he added.
Dr. Isaac reiterated that the Kerala government was designing its action plans in such away to bolster the three-tier panchayat systems. Only through such an effort, the process of decentralization and its objectives can be achieved, he affirmed.
Rice for Rs.2
Responding to a request submitted by Mayor M. Bhaskaran, Dr. Isaac assured that rice for Rs.2 would be extended to workers in the field of making earthenware and those who earn a living through waste recycling activities.
“The government has already taken decision to avail the benefit of the scheme to 5 lakh more families this year,” the minister said. He added that more deserving segments would be enlisted to get the benefit of the scheme.
Documentary and Development Plan released
‘Thiranottam’, a documentary produced by the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology for highlighting the achievement of Kozhikode district panchayat was released along with a Development plan- ‘Vision 2020’ in connection with the function. District Collector P.B. Salim acknowledged the first copy of the documentary and the master plan from Minister Thomas Isaac.
Mayor M. Bhaskaran presided over the function. District panchayat president K.P. Kunhammad Kutty welcomed the gathering and P. Devadas, District Planning Officer, proposed a vote of thanks.
