PANCHAYAT SARKAR BHAWANS: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

PANCHAYAT SARKAR BHAWANS: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

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RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------------Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans (Panchayat Government Buildings) were constructed in Bihar with the objective of strengthening the Panchayati Raj system, ensuring that government services could be easily accessible to the people right at the rural level. However, the reality on the ground tells a very different story. Today, the majority of these Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans are functioning solely on the shoulders of Executive Assistants, while the presence of Panchayat Secretaries and Accountants remains negligible in many locations.

The Executive Assistants—whose role is essentially supportive in nature—are compelled to manage the entire system single-handedly. They listen to the public's grievances, handle paperwork, and maintain liaison with various departments. Conversely, the Panchayat Secretaries and Accountants—who are entrusted with critical administrative and revenue-related responsibilities—are frequently found to be absent from their duties.

The situation becomes even more alarming when the Panchayati Raj Department, based in Patna, also relies exclusively on Executive Assistants for information and updates during official communications. This sends a message implying that the entire responsibility for the Panchayat machinery is concentrated on a single post, while the accountability of other key officials seems to have been completely lost.

This arrangement not only disrupts administrative equilibrium but also constitutes an injustice against the rights of the rural populace. The very purpose of the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan was to ensure transparency, accountability, and prompt service delivery; yet, when the officials specifically designated to uphold these standards remain absent, this objective remains unfulfilled.

It is high time that the Panchayati Raj Department takes this situation seriously. A rigorous monitoring mechanism must be implemented to ensure the regular presence of Panchayat Secretaries and Accountants. Measures such as biometric attendance systems, periodic inspections, and the strict enforcement of accountability must be adopted so that every official understands and fulfills their designated responsibilities.

Unless all Panchayat officials work together in unison, the vision of rural development will remain incomplete. To truly embody the spirit of "Government," it is imperative that every responsible individual within the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan fulfills their specific role—only then can the light of development truly reach the villages in its fullest sense.