INTRODUCTION TO DEVOLUTION PLAN LG-ORD 2001

NO SYSTEM CAN BE BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE RUNNING IT

WHY THE NEED FOR CHANGE 1947-99;;The governance at the Local level, the province governs the The Local Government for towns and cities

districts and Tehsil directly through the bureaucracy at the division, district and Tehsil levels.

existed separately from those of the rural areas.

The provincial

bureaucratic set-ups were the designated controlling authorities of the Local Governments; undermined and over-rode them, breeding a colonial relationship of ruler and subject. The rural-urban divide??

The two structural and systemic disjoints; coupled with the absence

of horizontal integration and the consequent inadequacy of functional coordination between the line departments at the division, district, and Tehsil levels, lead to inefficiency and corruption, Being the root causes of the crisis of governance at the grass root

level.

An independent nation depends on its Local Body institutions. It is difficult for a country that it could function efficiently without the presence of local government. The basic objective of the local government is to instill healthy political awareness among people that guide them toward development.
The Basic Democracy, 1959-60: Establishment of basic democracy. Power was distributed between peoples representatives and the administration, instead of completely handing it to the former. This law was enforced at the central level, and separate laws were developed for urban and rural local councils. BDs used as Electorate College For PRESIDENT Development in the early 1970s: 1972; One law was established for both urban and rural councils; LCs given under the jurisdiction of the provincial governments. The system was further refined in 1975 and 1979. No Elections held from under the new law till 1979.

DEVOLUTION IN PAKISTAN
Restructure the bureaucratic set up and de-centralize the administrative authority to elected representatives.

Re-orientate administrative systems to allow

public participation in decision-making.

Facilitate monitoring of government functionaries

by the elected representatives.

Rationalize administrative structures for improving efficiency to eliminate delay in

Decision Making. Ensure functioning of the related offices in an integrated manner to improve service delivery and award efficient officials through incentives. Improve administrative and financial management practices in the local councils with adequate management controls.

Redress grievances of people and Government

officials against mal-administration through

the office of Zila Mohtasib.

Enable the proactive elements of civil society

to participate in community work in collaboration with the Local Governments (CCBs)

SALIENT FEATURES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE - 2001

The Essence of New Local Government System

Five Fundamentals of Devolution/L G-System 2001 :

i. Devolution of political power

ii. Decentralization of administrative authority

iii. De-concentration of management functions

iv. Diffusion of the power-authority nexus v. Distribution of resources to the district level.

(Three tiers elected leadership having its own Vision,Mission&Goals) 5-Ds of New Local Govt System

DEVOLUTION OF POLITICAL POWER

DECENTRALIZATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY (More operational autonomy to the District Offices)

(Power to raise tax Fiscal transfer from higher tiers of Govt.lower Tiers)

DISTRIBUTIONOF RESOURCES TO THE DISTRICTS

(Focused approach, Meritocracy, performance based appraisal system, Specialization Vs Generation, Recognition & rewards)

DE-CONCENTRATION OF MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS

(Monitoring by citizens and elected representatives, Civil societys Involvement in development work, Effective checks & balances)

DIFFUSION OF THE POWER-AUTHORITY NEXUS

2.

Interests of the People:

It is designed to ensure that the genuine interests of the people are served and their rights safeguarded.
3.

Enabling Environment:

The new system will create an enabling environment in which the people can start participating in community welfare and be the masters of their own destiny.

SALIENT FEATURES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE - 2001 General

Voters age has been lowered to 18 years Women representation has been enhanced to 33 % at all levels of representations Representation for peasant, workers and

monitories in all three councils Training Programs for councilors to help them in the development of their communities.

Councils

District government, Tehsil Municipal Administrations and Union Administrations have been introduced with vast powers Strong links between Union, Tehsil and Zila Councils for effective coordination in the development process. All the three councils have powers to levy taxes.
Councilors

Councilors now have monitoring powers.

legislative

and

Nazim

Zila Nazim will be the head of the District No Nazim or Naib Nazim may hold the same office for more than two terms. The Union Nazim will also be member of the Zila Council The Naib Union Nazim will also be member of Tehsil Council.
Administration

District Bureaucracy will be under District Coordination Officer (DCO) of Grade 20. The Police for public order will be accountable to the Zila Nazim

SALIENT FEATURES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE - 2001 [Contd] Development

The urban-rural division for development has been removed. The Union Administration can also initiate development planning and execute the development projects. District Government will be responsible for development projects.

Community Participation

Effective people participation through Citizen Community Board [CCB] and Village Council Community can contribute in and has the ownership of development projects
Monitoring

Citizens are given the monitoring opportunity by providing information on real service delivery. All the member of three councils will form monitoring committees as a check on administration. Citizens can also play a direct role in monitoring the performance of the district administration and line departments through the Citizen Community Boards

Transparency
23.
24. 25.

Information will be made available to every body.

Obligatory display of information on various development activities for the public knowledge. Standardized mechanism for information availability.

CONCLUSION

The success of any new System depends on the abilities & initiatives of those who run it & ensure that people affected accept the change positively, which is possible only if the new System provides relief to them. Dedication & commitments from elected representatives and Government officials to work like a Team giving due importance to the views of the effected community
The decisions are taken through a democratic process within the laid down Rules & Procedures & no one individual forces his will because of his personal social/official position.

The working of Local Government Commission and monitoring committees through support of provincial government is essential for service delivery

The provincial governments should encourage private sector for a public private partnership for services delivery.
No system is sustainable unless the stakeholders are involved in the decision making process to accept the same and give it their ownership

 In spite of the difficulties faced due to lack of capacity; untrained Government Officials ; without adequate rules and clear cut defined role of the officials at TMAs/Ucs ; the LG System made an effort to facilitate the common man. The service delivery Improved in city Districts. The Rural Areas were neglected to an extent due to non existent of village councils.