Ashok gehlot ask bureaucrats to work with panchayats

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today asked district collectors and other officers to work with positive approach for successful implementation of the decision of delegating powers to Panchayats for governing, functioning and activities of five departments. Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day Collectors Conference here, Mr Gehlot said that the State Government had taken a historic decision by providing five powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the first phase for their empowerment. He said, ''a change in mindset is necessary to implement new decisions and reforms and the officers should take initiative with positive approach in this direction.'' The state government on October 2 had delegated powers to Panchayats for governance of activities and functioning of Elementary Education, Health, Agriculture, Women and Child Development and Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Chief Minister called upon officers to perform their duties honestly and vigilantly and to ensure that benefits of development schemes reach the common man. He said that the concept of good governance should be taken further and decisions be made in public interest so that the people did not have to face problems unnecessarily. Mr Gehlot said that even a small lapse adversely affects the image of the Government and conveys a wrong message to the people. In such a situation, it was the duty of the officers to work with more responsibility and accountability.