Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: In a significant move aimed at appeasing representatives from over 8,000 panchayats during the election year, the Nitish government has announced a major decision. Representatives of Bihar’s three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions and Gram Kachhari will now receive their allowances on a monthly basis, rather than the previous four-monthly payment system. The government has mandated that elected representatives at all levels, from the district downwards, will be provided with a regular monthly allowance.
To facilitate this change, the government has instructed the creation of maker, checker, and approval IDs at the district level. This will enable the direct transfer of allowances into the representatives’ accounts through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). Additionally, savings accounts are to be opened in the name of the District Panchayat Raj Officer, with the related processes to be completed promptly. Currently, the allowances are disbursed every four months in April, July, and November via PFMS.
No Increase in Allowance Amount
While the frequency of payments has been revised, there has been no decision to increase the allowance amount. Anand Sharma, Director of the Panchayati Raj Department, has ordered that the revised payment schedule will take effect from December 2024, with the first monthly payment under the new system to be made in April 2025. District-level officers have been directed to ensure the timely disbursement of allowances. Despite long-standing demands from panchayat representatives for salaries akin to those of MLAs and MPs, the government has not yet agreed to raise the allowance.
Accelerating Scheme Implementation
In a parallel development, the government has agreed to expedite the implementation of schemes within Panchayati Raj institutions by adopting a tender-based approach. The Panchayati Raj Department has issued orders to implement schemes at the departmental level in Zila Parishads through tenders. Previously, schemes costing less than ₹15 lakh were executed at the departmental level. Devesh Sehra, the Departmental Secretary, has communicated this change to all District Development Commissioners (DDCs), with the DDC serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Zila Parishad.
Election-Year Significance
During a departmental meeting held on 12 March, it was noted that the pace of scheme implementation in Panchayati Raj institutions, particularly in Zila Parishads, was sluggish. The expenditure of allocated funds was also a cause for concern. Despite adequate funding from both the central and state governments, the benefits were not reaching the public in a timely manner. This decision aims to address these issues and is expected to bolster the implementation of schemes in the crucial election year.
