Editorial 1 : Having panchayats as self-governing institutions
Context
There is a need to educate elected representatives and the public on the significance and the need for panchayats to be able to survive on their own resources
About
- Three decades have passed since the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments Acts came into effect, which envisaged that local bodies in India would function as institutions of local self government.
- As a follow up, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj was constituted in 2004 to strengthen rural local governments.
Issues
- When it comes to analysing the status of devolution, it is evident that some States have forged ahead while many lag behind.
- That “Panchayats earn only 1% of the revenue through taxes”, with the rest being raised as grants from the State and Centre was highlighted in a ‘Datapoint’
- It specifically points out that 80% of the revenue is from the Centre and 15 % from the States.
- This is an eye-opener for the proponents of decentralisation as the net result is that the revenue raised by panchayats is meagre even after 30 years of devolution initiatives.
Avenues for own source of revenue
- The report of the expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on own source of revenue (OSR) of rural local bodies elaborates on the details of State Acts that have incorporated tax and non-tax revenue that can be collected and utilised by panchayats.
- Property tax, cess on land revenue, surcharge on additional stamp duty, tolls, tax on profession, advertisement, user charges for water and sanitation and lighting are the major OSRs where panchayats can earn maximum income.
- Panchayats are expected to establish a conducive environment for taxation by implementing appropriate financial regulations.
- This includes making decisions regarding the tax and non-tax bases, determining their rates, establishing provisions for periodic revisions, defining exemption areas, and enacting effective tax management and enforcement laws for collection
- The huge potential for non-tax revenue includes fees, rent, and income from investment sales and hires charges and receipts.
- There are also innovative projects that can generate OSR.
- This covers income from rural business hubs, innovative commercial ventures, renewable energy projects, carbon credits. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and donations.
The role of gram sabhas
- Gram sabhas have a significant role in fostering self-sufficiency and sustainable development at the grass-roots level by leveraging local resources for revenue generation.
- They can be engaged in planning, decision-making, and implementation of revenue-generating initiatives that range from agriculture and tourism to small-scale industries.
- They have the authority to impose taxes, fees, and levies, directing the funds towards local development projects, public services, and social welfare programmes.
- Through transparent financial management and inclusive participation, gram sabhas ensure accountability and foster community trust, ultimately empowering villages to become economically independent and resilient.
- Thus, gram sabhas need to promote entrepreneurship, and foster partnerships with external stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of revenue generation efforts
- In several States, gram panchayats lack the authority to collect taxes, while in numerous others, intermediate and district panchayats are not delegated the responsibility of tax collection.
Way forward
- Despite every enabling factor to raise revenue, panchayats confront several impediments in resource mobilisation: the ‘freebie culture’ rampant in society is the cause for the antipathy in paying taxes.
- There is a need to educate elected representatives and the public on the significance of raising revenue to develop panchayats as self-governing institutions.
- Ultimately, the dependency syndrome for grants has to be minimised and in due course, panchayats will be able to survive on their own resources.
- Panchayats can only achieve such a state of affairs when there are dedicated efforts in all tiers of governance, which includes even the State and central level.
Editorial 2 : Keep it wholesome
Context
National cervical cancer control scheme must be made accessible to all.
About
- Health is seldom uni-dimensional, and it must not be seen as such.
- Government policy, particularly, must fathom the entirety of the issue, and assimilate multiple aspects in a field strategy, for optimum realisation of the intended goal.
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement during the presentation of the interim Budget that the government plans to encourage vaccination against cervical cancer for girls aged nine to 14, is no doubt a step in the right direction.
Cervical cancer
- Cancer of the cervix (literally, the neck of the womb) is unique among cancers because almost all the cases (99%, according to the World Health Organization) are linked to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
- While most HPV infections resolve spontaneously and the women remain symptom-free, persistent infection can lead to cervical cancer.
- It is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in India (over 77,000 annually), and is estimated to be the second most frequent cancer among Indian women between 15 and 44 years.
- While the good news is couched in the availability of a vaccine, the sobering fact is that the average national prevalence of cervical cancer screening hovers at just under 2% and outcomes depend on the stage of detection.
Diagnosis
- Ironically, cervical cancer can be easily diagnosed in a public health setting with minimal tools — the human eye, a dilution of white vinegar, and a dab of Lugol’s iodine.
- These are known as VIA and VILI tests and help look for precancerous lesions and cancer, much before an advanced stage of the disease can be picked up with cytology.
- A simple, short procedure, cryotherapy, can then be done while the patient is awake, to destroy the abnormal growth.
Way forward
- As the government rolls out its vaccination programme, it must also mandate screening right at the primary health centre, and if abnormalities are identified, offer cryotherapy right then.
- It is unlikely that vaccination of young girls alone will have a far-reaching impact in the short and medium term.
- The only way to prevent deaths is to deploy the entire assembly of tools as part of a national cervical cancer control programme, accessible to all women, irrespective of age, education, affordability or social status.