Editorial
Repealing of Gram Sarkar Act 2003
We are still waiting for a strong local government
WE welcome the decision of the caretaker government to bring in ordinance to annul the 2003 Gram Sarkar Act. The point at issue was not the idea of a gram sarkar per se, which in itself merits consideration, but the intention of the then ruling alliance of politicising the local government institutions for petty party aggrandisement. And this was palpably clear in their undue haste in forming gram sarkars in a large number of villages. It is interesting to read the remarks of the High Court while ruling in favour of a writ brought against the Act. While declaring the Act ultra vires of the constitution the High Court nonetheless thought the idea was a novel one.
The dubious intention behind distorting a good idea became even more evident in the action of the four-party alliance government that, despite the court's ruling, went ahead with putting in place gram sarkars in more than forty thousand villages and allocating huge sums of money -- taking advantage of the fact the court had not issued a stay order on the matter.
But the even more important issue now, that of strengthening the local government, is what the people are waiting eagerly to happen. It needs little repetition that for a vibrant, participatory democracy, an efficient local government system invested with adequate power to undertake development activities -- and playing a role in social and economic spheres of the lives of the local people, is indispensable.
Regrettably, there has been a reluctance to cede authority to the various tiers of local government, not surprisingly though, from the bureaucrats at the centre. It has suffered primarily because of its ability to formulate development plans at the grass root level because of being unsure of adequate funds at the right time from the ministry. It needs little restating too that the future of Bangladesh lies in the development of the more than 68,000 villages in the country. And invigorated local government institutions can provide the fillip towards that end. It should not be forgotten that good local government can provide good governance, which will become more effective by people's participation in all the activities that are undertaken at the lower levels.
We are looking expectantly to the caretaker government and the election commission for fulfilling the first requirement in having a strong local government -- the election to the Union Parishads.
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