The state government has notified new working committees in panchayats to facilitate smooth execution of local projects under the 15th finance commission using its power under Section 107 of the Panchayati Raj Act owing to delay in conducting fresh elections in Jharkhand.

Late on Thursday night, the state rural development department named heads of these working committees from elected local body representatives and gave them financial powers. It also introduced representatives from the government to maintain equilibrium and transparency till fresh elections are held.

Terms of over 4,000 panchayat bodies lapsed after January 4, 2021. State rural development minister Alamgir Alam said that since no fresh elections would be held because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government had two options to keep panchayat bodies functional and ensure utilisation of central funds.

“There were two options — one was administrative takeover of panchayat bodies with the block development officer (BDO) given powers or set up samitis using local representatives. We chose the latter considering it to be the best possible option,” said Alam,

The minister said the state government was evaluating the Covid-19 situation to decide on elections soon.

State panchayati raj director Aditya Ranjan said that former mukhiyas would had been made part of the new working committees as heads but they would have to work with the other members, including those nominated by the government.

As per the notification in non-scheduled areas, a working committee in a gram panchayat would have the former mukhiya as its president, while other former office-bearers of the panchayat would be members. “Two government representatives and a retired class-III government employee would also be part of the working committee. “For every decision, a formal consent of every member is required,” he said.

Likewise, committees have been set up in scheduled areas too.

In panchayat samitis, the former head of the samiti had been named president while former officer-bearers and three government representatives would be the other members. A similar system would work in zila parishads.

Panchayat leaders welcomed the government’s move. Head of Koderma zila parishad Shalini Gupta said, “We have been demanding extension of existing panchayat bodies and its members till fresh elections are conducted. We are happy with the arrangement made by the government.”

President of Jharkhand State Mukhiya Sangh’s Vikas Mahto said the government adopted the Madhya Pradesh model. “We are happy with the arrangements as the move has in a sense provided extension to the existing elected members of panchayat bodies,” he opined.