A delegate from Dima Hasao Autonomous Council felicitates J.B. Patnaik in Guwahati on Saturday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Dec. 8: Assam governor J.B. Patnaik has asked the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council to implement the panchayati raj system as soon as possible for “all-round” development at the grassroots in areas under its jurisdiction.

He had in the past fortnight similarly nudged the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council to implement the system.

The governor, who met a delegation from the Dima Hasao council here today, asked them to work for the setting up of panchayati raj — both at the gram panchayat and block levels — with representation from all communities. The delegation included chief executive member Debojit Thaosen and 10 other members of the council.

Patnaik suggested delimitation of the panchayats under the guidelines of the state election commission.

On December 6, Patnaik had suggested to a BTC delegation the immediate introduction of the panchayati system in the BTAD as an essential part of democratic reforms so that people could enjoy the fruits of development. The delegation included BTC deputy chief Kampa Borgoyari and state cabinet minister Chandan Brahma.

The push for the local governance system assumes significance because there is no panchayati raj in the Sixth Schedule areas. Assam has three such areas — Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong and the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD).

Patnaik told The Telegraph this evening, “It is true there are no panchayats in Sixth Schedule areas but the councils can suo motu initiate the process to have one so that people can benefit from central schemes such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. According to our discussions, the BTC will have a single-tier division (gram panchayat) while Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong will have two-tier panchayats (gram and block). I have been pushing for it since I took charge in 2009, as people at the grassroots should not be deprived of development. I am hopeful these systems of governance will be put in place very soon as the response has been positive.”

According to the process, the respective councils will have to move a draft bill to the state government, which will then be sent to the governor. After the governor’s assent, it will be sent back to the council where it will be approved and returned to the governor for his final assent before it becomes an act.

Sources said as and when the panchayat system comes into existence, the people at the grassroots will be empowered economically and politically as funds will directly flow to the panchayats. This will also go a long way in checking unrest in these volatile areas. The new panchayats can co-exist with the village development councils in these areas — such as the one approved by the BTC on July 18 this year, they added.