Disgruntled UP chairmen

Their reservations should not go unnoticed because the Union Council as the lowest tier of the local government has a definite role to play in strengthening the system --believed to be the bedrock of democratic dispensation. The constitutional provisions in this respect spell out that the state will encourage the growth of all local government institutions formed with people's representatives. The idea is to allow the local bodies to develop into self-propelled units of the local government having the authority to collect taxes and maintain funds for local uplift.

They have aired some complaints against the lawmakers and are planning to proceed along an agitational course if they are not allowed to work freely. The areas that the MPs are reportedly 'meddling' into include distribution of test relief, vulnerable group feeding cards, food for work and initiation of new projects. It seems politics of vote-catching is undermining an important local government institution.

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It may not be out of place here to mention that elected women representatives at the UPs are marginalised as they are not taken onboard as far as the decision-making processes are concerned. This kind of gender discrimination can also weaken the foundation of local government. The men at the helm should address the problem as well.

The UP chairmen deserve a patient hearing because as elected public representatives they have the right to function without being inhibited by any individual or organisation. As we wrote in this column a few weeks back, the primary function of the MPs is making laws. We also said that their role in development activities should not be expanded. Obviously, the problem that the UP chairmen are facing now has a lot to do with the MPs seeking a dominant role in development programmes. There is no doubt that great confusion will arise if they mix up the role of the legislature with that of the local government.