Panchayat staffing rules

Why in news?

The Centre is expected to release a report, specifying the rules for recruitment of non-elected panchayat staff.

What are the issues in this regard?

Recruitment - The Rajasthan government recently mandated minimum educational qualifications for candidates contesting elections for panchayati raj institutions.
But no state has clear rules on how the non-elected staff at panchayats should be appointed.
The system of patronage and nepotism or preferential treatment in recruitment are plaguing the outcomes of rural development initiatives.
Training and Performance- The other problem is the large scale involvement of ill-organised cadres and temporary workers to manage programmes.
It becomes hard to either monitor their role or make them obey disciplinary steps and this have an impact on services delivery.
In the context of community workers engaged in rural development programmes, there is no connection between the their performance and the salaries they draw.
Notably, the variation in their performance is mostly due to lack of trained human resource.
States - Under the Fourteenth Finance Commission award, grants are being allocated to states to meet out Panchayati Raj Institutions' needs.
However, the states are reluctant to furnish audited reports, statements of account and utilisation certificates in respect of this financial assistance.

What does the report aim for?

The report primarily aims at putting in a place a defined Panchayat staffing rules to improve service delivery.
Some age-old practices that guide selection to posts in panchayats will now be eliminated.
A regulated staffing in the Panchayats in the country can make them more inclusive.
It can also ensure that the massive amount of funds that are devolved to them produce uniform and beneficious results.
The report will also cover the administrative structure of various programmes that have a bearing on rural development, including-

Source: Business Standard