CHAPTER-XI EVOLUTION OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL “ I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and yourself melt away." One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought. The aforesaid principle of the Father of the Nation popularly known as Gandhi‟s Talisman finds translated in the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India which has immensely and logically empowered the common man at the grass root level and the succeeding stages in the hierarchy of development instilling the self-confidence and the modalities by which this vision can be materialized. Further, Gandhiji was of the opinion that the Self-Government means continuous effort to be independent of Government control, whether it is Foreign Government or whether it is National Swaraj Government, will be a sorry affair if people look up to it for the regulation of every detail of life. The Father of the Nation has also asserted that Self-Government depends upon our internal strength, upon our ability to fight against the heaviest odds. Indeed Self- Government which does not require that continuous striving to attain it and to sustain it is not worth the name. I have, therefore, endeavored to show both in word and deed, that, political Self-Government i.e., Self-Government for a large number of men and women is no better than individual Self-Government, and therefore, it is to be attained by precisely the same means that are required for individual Self-Government or Self Rule. These philosophical postulates of Gandhiji have formed the foundation of the system of Local Self-Government for which the required statutory provisions have been made and implemented accordingly in which the Zilla Parishad finds its key role to turn the ideas of Gandhiji into action. In the three tier Panchayati Raj system in the State of Odisha, Zilla Parishad is the apex Panchayati Raj Institution at the district level which has been established in consonance with the provisions prescribed under the Odisha Zilla Parishad Act,1991 (Odisha Act 17 of 1991) and made operational under the provisions of the Odisha Zilla Parishad Rules,2001. The rural areas of Bargarh district has been divided into 34ZillaParishadConstituencies adopting the principle of population of approximately 40,000 per constituency, as far practicable, not extending beyond the territorial limit of 238 the Block, territorial area of a Grama and is compact with due regard to geographical features. Sl.No. Name of the No. of Zilla Parishad Sl.No. Name of the No. of Zilla Block Zones Block Parishad Zones 1 Ambabhona 02 7 Bijepur 03 2 Attabira 04 8 Padampur 03 3 Bargarh 04 9 Paikmal 03 4 Barpali 03 10 Jharbandh 02 5 Bhatli 02 11 Gaisilet 02 6 Bheden 03 12 Sohela 03 TOTAL : 34 The Rural Electorates on the basis of adult suffrage by direct election elect the Zilla Parishad Member from the contesting candidates having political affiliation for each such constituency with tenure of five years. The eligibility of becoming a Member of the Parishad has been stipulated under Section-33 of the Odisha Zilla Parishad Act, 1991 (Odisha Act 17 of 1991). Consequent upon declaration of the result, the elected Zilla Parishad Members elect one of the Zilla Parishad Members as President and another Member as Vice- President .The seat for the President is reserved on gender and caste basis as stipulated by a Notification issued by the State Election Commission. The results of the Elections to the Zilla Parishad since 1997, the year of 1st Election are as depicted below:- Sl.No. Year of Name of the No. of Name of the President / Vice President. Election Political seats Party won BJP 07 Shri Kabi Surya Purohit / INC 10 Shri. Manorajan Singh Bariha 1 1997 JD 16 Smt. Mathura Bhoi IND 01 BJD 03 BJP 06 Shri Manoranjan Singh Bariha / 2 2002 INC 24 Smt. Surekha Gartia. IND 01 BJD 09 BJP 09 Smt. Sunaphula Seth / 3 2007 INC 14 Shri Soubhagya Ranjan Nayak. IND 02 BJD 31 Smt.Geetanjali Putta / 4 2012 INC 3 Shri Soubhagya Ranjan Nayak 239 The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India has invigorated the system of PanchayatiRaj institutions in the country and has streamlined operation of all the stages for smooth functioning of the system. The Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 40 read with Article 243 of the Constitution of India vest such power and authority as found to be necessary to enable the institutions to function as units of “Local Self Government”. The list of subjects to be dealt with by the institution has been stipulated under the 11th Schedule of the Constitution of India to ensure socio economic development along with social justice and simultaneously the Zilla Parishad has been assigned with functional autonomy and provided with adequate resources for discharging such entrustments. Members of the Parishad Section 6 of the Act prescribes the following members to constitute the Parishad: a) Each Member of the Zilla Parishad, b) Chairperson of each Panchayat Samiti of the District, c) Member of the House of the People and Member of the State Legislative Assembly of the District and d) Members of the Council of States who are registered as electors within the area of the Parishad. Further, the Collector of the District is the Chief Executive Officer, the Project Director, District Rural Development Agency is the Executive Officer and Ex-officio Secretary of the Zilla Parishad and all the District Level Officers are the Ex-officio Members of the Zilla Parishad. Meeting of the Parishad The Zilla Parishad shall have to meet not less than four times during any financial year for the transaction of its business and a period of more than three months shall not be allowed to elapse between two successive meetings. ZILLA PARISHAD AND ITS OPERATIONS Planning- For successful implementation of various programmes such as poverty alleviation, wage employment, livelihood promotion, social security measures, rural housing and all other programmes ancillary and incidental thereto the Parishad considers the proposals received from the grass root level Panchayati Raj Institutions and approve the same with modification necessary, if any, in tune with the guidelines. Standing Committees- For efficient discharge of its functions including Planning, Coordination and Monitoring of the projects the Standing Committees have been constituted by the ZillaParishad dealing with the subject matters as detailed hereafter. 240 1. Standing Committee “A”: Planning, Finance, Anti –Poverty Programmes and Co- ordination. 2. Standing Committee “B”: Agriculture, Animal Resources, Soil Conservation, Horticulture, Watershed Development and Fisheries. 3. Standing Committee “C”: Works, Irrigation, Electricity, Drinking Water Supply, Rural Sanitation and Rural Health Programmes. 4. Standing Committee “D”: Health, Social Welfare including Woman and Child Development. 5. Standing Committee “E”: Public Distribution System, Welfare of Weaker Section, Forest, Fuel and Fodder. 6. Standing Committee “F”: Handicraft, Cottage Industries, Khadi and Village Industries and Rural Housing. 7. Standing Committee “G”: Education, Sports and Culture. Funds All allotments received by the Parishad constitute a fund namely “Zilla Parishad Fund” which is allocated to the Intermediary Panchayats for execution of several projects. Budget of the Parishad-The Chief Executive Officer of the Parishad frames the Budget Estimate showing the probable receipts and expenditure relating to different programmes of the Parishad for the succeeding year which is approved by the President and placed before the Standing Committee concerned which after scrutiny may affect any modification as it deems fit and the same is placed before the Parishad for discussion and approval. Two supplementary or revised budgets in a financial year for the Parishad are prepared, discussed and sanctioned by the Parishad. Annual Report- Each year in the month of April an Annual Report containing a true and full account of the activities of the Parishad is prepared by the Chief Executive Officer. Conclusion The Apex Body of the Local Self-Government at the District Level i.e. the Zilla Parishad has successfully transformed the philosophical thought and objectives in the last two decades justifying its birth and continuance in the interest of rural development so as to enable to form a strong and vibrant society. Therefore, it is to be attained by precisely the same means that are required for individual Self-Government or Self Rule. These philosophical postulates of Gandhiji have formed the foundation of the system of Local Self-Government for which the required statutory provisions have been made and implemented accordingly in which the Zilla Parishad finds its key role to turn the ideas of Gandhiji into action. In the three tier Panchayati Raj system in the State of Odisha, Zilla Parishad is the apex Panchayati Raj Institution at the district level which has been established in consonance with the provisions prescribed under the Odisha Zilla Parishad Act,1991 241 (Odisha Act 17 of 1991) and made operational under the provisions of the Odisha Zilla Parishad Rules,2001. The rural areas of Bargarh district has been divided into 34ZillaParishadConstituencies adopting the principle of population of approximately 40,000 per constituency, as far practicable, not extending beyond the territorial limit of the Block, territorial area of a Grama and is compact with due regard to geographical features.