Author: Subodh Ghildiyal
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 26, 2007
Introduction: Aiyar Plans Massive Delhi Rally,
Budget Gives Babus The Jitters
The cost of this nightmare could be at least
Rs 100 crore. With a massive bill lurking at its doorsteps, a national rally
of panchayats planned by Mani Shankar Aiyar's panchayati raj ministry in the
capital, has babudom tied up in knots.
The ministry's finance wing has raised objections
to the initial estimate of Rs 165 crore proposed as the expenditure for the
rally. While officials and Aiyar are working at a frenetic pace to revise
the budget, sceptics within wonder if it would make much of
a difference. Even the scaled down estimate has been put at Rs 102 crore.
The mega expenditure is for a massive rally conceived to celebrate the 15th
year of the advent of panchayati raj in the country by bringing to the capital
panchayat functionaries from every corner. The 73rd and 74th constitutional
amendment acts were passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on December 22
and 23, 1992.
The ministry has hit upon a unique idea of
a two-day national congregation of panchayats, with a convention of chairpersons
of zila parishads and panchayat samitis on December 22 followed by a rally
of sarpanchs on December 23. While 1.25 lakh people are said to be expected,
there is no clear picture yet. With thousands of panchayat members likely
to pour in, their transportation, lodging, fooding and civic amenities would
cost a fortune. There is no clarity yet on the number of participants though
invitations have gone out to 2.5 lakh persons.
While an estimate was made at Rs 165 crore,
sources said the ministry's finance wing objected to it, calling it "on
the high side" arrived at in "an ad hoc" manner, without "some
basis for arriving at this figure". It asked the ministry to prune the
budget. Objections have also been raised by Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit who has
expressed concern over such a large number of people coming to the Capital.
She met home minister Shivraj Patil and made it plain Delhi lacked the infrastructure
to host such a huge gathering. While the Delhi government has no direct role
in either sanctioning the rally or making arrangements for it, Dikshit has
voiced a common concern expressed over mega rallies disrupting life in the
capital. Aiyar denied the budget was finalised and said it would be based
on the figures sent from states. "No budget has been prepared. And it
would be nowhere near Rs 165 crore," he said, adding, "I have not
seen papers you may have seen. There have been some discussions."
There was a suggestion that the funds required
could be taken as a loan from the Backward Regions Grant Fund, a Rs 5,000
crore corpus for infrastructure development in 250 under-developed districts,
but Aiyar said, "There is no question of touching BRGF." Sources
said the PR ministry was considering the objections and was revising the rally
estimate, after which it would seek a cabinet nod for expenditure. However,
political opposition has already begun. JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav has shot
off a letter to the PM, dubbing the rally as a "tamasha" and an
"exercise in event management and merry making for a few individuals".
