Even as campaigning gets to its final leg, several key issues with a direct bearing on local governance such as strengthening of local bodies by delegating more fiscal and administrative powers have largely remained on the backburner.
With political issues hogging centre stage, topics such as institutionalisation of democratic decentralisation and arming the local bodies with adequate resources have remained behind the side curtains. But campaign managers of rival fronts and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claim that several other crucial issues were being seriously debated at the local level.
A celebration
Former Planning Board member K.N. Harilal is one who testifies to that argument. Mr. Harilal was privy to discussions on developmental issues initiated by panchayats and municipalities and also in the preparation of election manifestoes of the LDF in various local bodies, especially in North Kerala. He considers the local bodies’ poll as a celebration of democracy.
“With such a large number of wards and candidates, people are seriously discussing all issues that directly impact their life. One need not get carried away by the political discussions in the media. The real stakeholders are seriously debating micro-level issues such as construction of roads, markets, improvement of amenities and such others, with a renewed vigour. They have a general feeling now that they are an integral part of the development process. This is no mean achievement,” said Mr. Harilal.
However, none of the key contestants seem to be concerned about a host of issues awaiting them on assuming office.
Severe funds crunch
Except for Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode Corporations, a vast majority of the urban and rural local governments are reeling under a severe funds crunch, mainly due to poor budget compliance and lapses in resource mobilisation.
Most of them are striving hard to honour even routine commitments such as salary and pension.
The government has already changed the system of releasing funds to the local governments.
The quarterly fund release system has been replaced with a bill system, which is already in vogue in government departments.
Those issues have not come up for debate even as campaigning gets to the last lap.
But, as a local campaign manager put it: ‘‘Right now, the challenge is to win. Everything could be tackled later.”
Topics such as institutionalisation of democratic decentralisation and arming the local bodies with adequate resources have remained behind the side curtains.
