Itanagar, June 30: On the basis of the recommendations of State Finance Commission, the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet has approved of devolution of power to Panchayat bodies, election for which was held in April last. Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Takam Sanjoy told newsmen here today that the power and functions of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) have been shifted from block development officer to the elected chairman of the zilla parishad. The deputy commissioner of respective districts would function as chief executive and the BDO as member secretary of the zilla parishad, he said. The government has also decided yesterday to delegate powers to Panchayat bodies in fields like management of community schools, anganwadis, rural electrification through non-conventional energy and identifying beneficiaries in the field of agriculture and horticulture.
The management and execution of watersheds schemes and other centrally sponsored schemes for rural development have been entrusted to three-tier Panchayat bodies namely gaon sabha, anchal samiti and zilla parishads, Sanjoy said. Bureau Report