September 8, 2014
WB Govt to track progress of work at panchayat level through mobile technology
In a unique move to track the progress ofthe developmental works going on in rural Bengal, the State PanchayatDepartment will supply mobile phones to thousand gram panchayats in ninedistricts of the state.
The selected panchayats have been asked totake pictures of every meeting that take place and send it to the authorities.A toll-free number is also being created where people can send their complaintsor grievances.
Minister for Panchayats and RuralDevelopment, Mr Subrata Mukherjee said that the process is being implemented tobring more transparency in panchayat related works and strengthen thedemocratic system as well.
The mobile phones will not only be used totake pictures of meetings and record the decisions, but also to monitor theprogress of projects that are going on under the panchayats. The pictures willbe uploaded on the department's website for public view. The calls received onthe toll free number will also be docketed.
In the first phase, 20 gram panchayats inBardhaman will have the facility. By March 2015, another 980 Gram Panchayatswill be using the system in Bardhaman, Birbhum, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur,Cooch Behar, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah and Nadia.
Bengal's panchayat system has beeninternationally acclaimed by the World Bank under the InstitutionalStrengthening of Gram Panchayat Scheme. In the recent past, the panchayat ministerhas been invited by the World Bank at several programmes in USA and Europe as amark of appreciation for the state's achievements in rural development.
