Now mukhiyas will register marriages

PATNA: CM Nitish Kumar wants panchayat bodies to play a significant role in the development of the state. As such, mukhiyas will now register marriages and sarpanches will settle petty disputes. The CM disclosed this while addressing the mukhiyas and ward members from three subdivisions of Patna district — Barh, Patna City and Masaurhi — on Friday. About 150 mukhiyas and 2,050 ward members attended a two-day statewide training-cum-orientation camp, which will conclude on November 19. The camp aims at making panchayat representatives aware of their duties and responsibilities. Nitish said that he did not go ahead with his plan to hold a three-day camp for 1.25 lakh panchayat representatives since it would have cost a whopping Rs 35 crore. "In case you have any doubts about anything, the DMs and the officials concerned will respond to your queries by post," he said. The CM said that the state government's decision to provide 50 per cent reservation to women in panchayat bodies had triggered a "silent revolution" in the state. "In fact, we want to establish a real panchayat government in the state," he added. Widening the ambit of their power, the CM said that panchayat members shall ensure proper education and prepare the blueprint for development of horticulture and fishery so that none died of starvation. Besides monitoring preparation of job cards, they must also ensure proper implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme in their areas, he said and added that distribution of ration and kerosene coupons was also a part of their job. "Even registration of marriages will be done by mukhiyajis. You'll will get invitations in marriages because without your consent the marriage will not be legally valid," the CM said jovially. Nitish said that panchayat members will no longer have to hang around the MLAs and MPs for developmental works. They simply have to work out their developmental plans and the state planning commission will hand them over the requisite funds, he added. The CM said that a training programme will be held for sarpanches to deliver justice in cases of petty dispute. "The judiciary has agreed to help in this regard," he added. Health minister Chandra Mohan Rai, who is the minister-in-charge for training of panchayat members in Patna district, said that an aware panchayat member can keep the officials on their toes. He appealed to the panchayat members to focus on health and education. Bakhtiyarpur MLA Vinod Kumar Yadav said that the Panchayati Raj has checked corruption to a great extent. He urged the CM to hold panchayat polls on a non-party basis so that people could elect the candidate of their choice.