Gramasabhas gearing up for resurgence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Gramasabhas, which were meant to fuel decentralisation in the state but have long lost its steam in the process, are gearing up for a resurgence.A massive campaign to streamline and strengthen the activities of the Gramasabhas in the state is being planned by the government, just in time to prepare them for the beginning of the 12th Five Year Plan.The Draft Approach Paper to the 12th Five-Year Plan for the LSG, prepared by the State Planning Board, has made it clear that revitalisation of the gramasabhas would be given utmost priority.Experts in local governance have been grieving over the gradual demise of the concept of Gramasabha, which has become a namesake procedure in many places.It is in this context that KILA (Kerala Institute of Local Administration), under the direction of the government, has devised a twomonth campaign, beginning November to rejuvenate the functioning and role of gramasabhas.Drawing public to the gramasabha is of course the main agenda. This time however, the target is the educated and the elite, who are generally seen keeping a distance from gramasabhas.The new concept being launched is that every citizen is a gramasabha member and just like the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha members, they too have power and a role in the decision-making process.“It is a move to prompt the citizen to take up the ownership of the gramasabha which is direct democracy.Though a couple of local bodies have tried doing it by themselves, it is the first time in the country a concerted effort is being done statewide in this direction, that too targeting specific groups.The educated group has been turning their face to the system, we want the message to reach them. Setting a target group would help us focus better and tell them what they are missing out,” says P P Balan, KILA Director.According to him, a massive training programme is being planned whereby master facilitators in the blocklevel would first undergo training in the new campaign.Around, 860 master trainers would shape the master facilitators numbering around 19,000.