Imphal, October 05: Union minister of Panchayati Raj (PR) Mani Shankar Aiyar has signed a 27 point joint statement with chief minister O Ibobi Singh regarding devolution of power to Panchayats in Manipur.

The agreement signed during Aiyar's two day State visit lays priority on fulfilling devolution of functions, funds and functionaries under the Manipur PR Act, for which the State Government has to complete the process and issue necessary orders by the departments concerned for transfer of schemes based on Activity Mapping by April next year.

Prior to leaving the State today, the union minister also spelt out other points of the joint statement during a press conference held here.

The agreement aims to shift responsibility on the Government of Manipur to sustain pace of reform in tandem with effective support and coordination with the central government.

On transfer of funds the joint statement prescribed that all Panchayats effectively plan and implement the functions that have been transferred to them, allocation/transfer of necessary funds of these schemes without delay or diversion as provided for in the common minimum programme.

As part of this process, the state government agreed to put in place systems that are capable of tracking transfer of funds to Panchayats, both through banks and state government treasuries, preferably electronically by March 2007, said Mani Shankar who is also the Union Sports Minister.

Consequently the state will transfer all functions and finances to all levels and the functionaries required to implement entrusted schemes to the disposal of the Panchayat concerned.

The state will take all necessary measures to complete it by April 1, 2008.Coming to district planning the state government are required to have elections for the elective posts of the district planning committees completed as prescribed under the relevant rules of the Panchayati act.

The joint statement said the gram sabhas will be strengthened, by empowering them through legislation and rules, subject to the centre's guidelines with respect to selection of beneficiaries, approval of plans, programmes and schemes, authorization of utilization certificates and conduct of social audit.

On the centre's plan of action it said the Union ministry of PR endorsed supporting the state with technical assistance in under taking further PR reforms including activity mapping and fiscal devolution.

The ministry is entailed to support and assist endeavours of the state government to prepare a secure funding assistance from international funding agencies on the same pattern as in Karnataka State.

It also mentioned about assistance from international agencies, e-governance, strengthening the accounting and audit system of the Panchayats, creating competition amongst the Panchayats, elections to the Panchayats, Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan, Panchayat Yuva Shakti Abhiyan, Panchayat Yuva Khel Abhiyan, Rural business hubs, accountability of the panchayats and national rural employment guarantee act, among others.

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