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UP body system seen as anti-democracy

States BARD study

SlIAKUAWAT LlTON
The union parishad (UP) committee system cannot play a leading role in ensuring transparency and democratic practices in the UPs because of indifference to the system itself, reveals a study of Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD).
"Lack of accountability and transparency in the operation of union parishads is a serious obstacle to ensuring good governance at local levels," the study says.
The central government mech-
anisms to monitor tire functions of these local government bodies are also ineffective, says the BARD, which is an autonomous body.
According to the UP ordinance, each of the 4,496 union parishads should have 13 standing committees on matters including finance, education, development, health, law and order, accounts and audits, social welfare and community centre to manage the local affairs.
The constitution also assigns these local government bodies responsibilities relating to administration and work of public offi-
cers, maintenance of public order, and preparation and implementation of plans for public services and economic development.
Consisted of elected members arid community representatives, these committees are deemed essential for establishing good governance at local levels by boosting up the activities of the over-hundred-year-old local government bodies, the UPs.
"But in most cases, union parishads do not form these standing committees which is causing problems in managing various activities of the UPs. In some cases, standing committees were formed to fulfil the official purpose but were kept non-functioning and inoperative," observes the BARD study
It points out that in some cases, the committees acted according to the directions of the chairmen concerned and did not allow scopes for others' participation.
In order to improve the overall governance of the UPs, these standing committees should be re-activated by-forming them openly to ensure broaderpartiapation of the society, the BARD suggests.
It says tn e monitoring mechanisms of the LGRD and cooperatives ministry, which is legally empowered to do the job, are also "weak, inadequate and ineffective".
The other mechanism of monitoringlies with the inspection and visits by the field level government functionaries. But their functions are very much controlling in nature than of monitoring,' says the study, also blaming the excessive degree of external regulation and control over the UPs for its institutional weakness.
Unwanted intervention of MPs on local government issues is another reason for institutional weakness of the UPs. The functions and functionaries of local government should in no way be controlled through other institutions, it observes.
The BRAD conducted the study titled 'Governance in Union Parishad of Bangladesh: Problems and Prospective" in an effort to analyse the current state of the UPs. the lowest tier of local government structure in the rural areas ofBangladesh since 1870.
The study conducted by BARD deputy directors Abdul Karim and Mizanur Rahman discloses the frustrating findings about the UPs' current state that does not go with the spirit of local government stated in the constitution.
The BARD officials also point out a lack of transparency in preparing the UPs annual budget confided to the UP secretary and chairman concerned. The UP secretary prepares and finalises the budget based on the previous year s budget and in consultation with the chairman and then sends it to the bureaucratic channel for approval
The study notes that any discussion regarding the budgetwas hardly held in the council meeting in the past. 'As a result low-level participation in the affairs of the lowest unit of the local government institutions such as Union Panshad of Bangladesh hinders local development and quality of governance,'it says.
But fundamental principles of the state policy written in the constitution encourage local government institutions at all administrative levels in which effective people s participation through elected representatives should be ensured. the B ARD says.
The study suggests introduction of open space budgeting system to ensure participation of the local community to establish transparency and accountability of the local government The system may also motivate the taxpayers.
tn a dose study of activities of some selected UPs, the BARD reveals that motivation through local leaders has proved to lx-a moreeffectivestrarcgyto increase success of national programmes.
Mutual partnership between the central government and the local government can ensure more effective service delivery at local level the study observes 'Some of the basic services provided by the central government, such as primary health care, management of primary education, and agriculture services could be transferred or deputed to the UPs management." the BARD says.
It also suggests that the national policymakers may thinkofdecentralis -ing many responsibilities that can be better managed at the local level
Currently, the UP chairman and members spend most of their working time in resolving local disputes and have little time to concentrate on other developmental functions. Against this backdrop, the BARD suggests forming "salish committees" at the ward level to reduce the UPs' workload, allowing local leaders to devote themselves to other development activities.