The Kerala Institute for Local Administration (KILA) is out with a new slogan, catch them fresh to catalyse development.
Once the din and bustle of the Assembly elections settle and the newly elected members assume charge, the institute will release a development plan for each Assembly segment to address core issues such as drinking water scarcity and poor infrastructure in schools and hospitals with the active involvement of the local governments.
According to institute director P.P. Balan, every MLA is entitled to an asset development fund of Rs.5 crore and special development fund of Rs.1 crore annually since 2012. These allocations are being expended along with Central and State government schemes as well as those being taken up by the local governments.
An MLA is perhaps the only one who could coordinate the development ventures initiated by agencies at different tiers and ensure optimum utilisation and benefits to the public.
Action plan
It is in this context that the institute decided to work out an action plan within six months for each segment, covering projects that could be completed over five years, he says.
The plan assumes significance in the wake of the proactive role being played by the local governments through decentralised planning at the grassroots.
The institute would formulate plans for each segment and set the ground for an interaction involving the MLAs, elected representatives, officials and the beneficiaries.
Plugging gaps
This would help plug gaps in project execution and also address key issues such as refuse management, drinking water shortage, bio-farming and housing projects. It would also reduce hassles in taking up schemes for the health and education sectors at the ground level.
The idea is to work out the plan for all the segments and have interactive sessions with the new members, so that the concept of development beyond politics would unfold in its true sense.
