By Dr. M.A.Mohamed Saleem and Arjuna Hulugalle
At a time when the mechanism for decentralization is foremost in one’s mind, it was heartening to read that President Sirisena made a reference to it in a call to his Ministers to come up with proposals for its introduction (Sunday Times, November 6th 2016).
Apolitical stability can only be realized if there is a solid platform accepted by all and evolved over time. The Grama Rajya system can be one which can meet this prerequisite as the entire country will have a level playing field, without being haunted by the traumatic baggage of negative divisive forces. The units of the Grama Rajyas are small, manageable and the people of each Grama Rajya can cope with their challenges and come up with their own solutions. The structure however, has to be thought through taking all the eventualities.
A possible Model
One possible model for the Grama Rajya was conceptualized by the Citizens Movement for Good Governance (CIMOGG) and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre and presented at various fora, including Committees appointed by Parliament on different occasions to go into the subject of Constitutional reform and the LLRC (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission).
Grama Rajya is a way of decentralizing governance by direct involvement of people in determining problems/priorities and implementing/monitoring agreed solutions for developing their respective localities.
Grama-Rajya is conceived as a fundamental unit of governance that originates at the level of each village. Individuals within a locality (village) known for their professional backgrounds and personal qualities, skills and interests are persuaded to accept nomination and selected by the people to voluntarily serve in a nine member council (Grama Rajya) established for and by people of that locality. Each member takes responsibility to address different issues that are of immediate interests of the people to develop that locality. Such interests are found generally to fall within the following sectors: Heritage and Culture, Food Production, Women, Youth, Services (health, education, roads, water and power supply etc.…).
Elections to establish Grama Rajyas will be very inexpensive as the people of any locality will have personal knowledge of the candidates who come forward to represent the respective sectoral interests and therefore enormous electioneering (publicity) expenses that candidates normally encounter is eliminated. It is envisaged that the members elected to Grama Rajyas in the whole country will then constitute the pool of candidates/electors from which other layers of representative bodies (e.g. divisional councils, district councils, parliament etc.) can be constituted.
A prime feature
A prime feature of establishing a proposed grama rajya based system of governance is the power to recall any of the elected representatives at any time by those who directly elected them (electors) if the said representative does not deliver-within the specified period- on what was promised to the electors at time of election.
The Mahatma Gandhi Centre appeared before the LLRC and its submission appeared in the final report as follows – “… if people at the grassroots level had the authority to make and implement decisions on matters affecting their lives it will contribute to diffusing tensions and frustrations…”. Thus, establishment of Peoples’ Councils at village level where the villagers elected representatives administer their day to day affairs was advocated. This can easily be put into practice immediately at each village level which will enable neighbouring villages to cooperate and solve common problems or derive mutual benefits. As communities interact with each other they will regain trust among themselves to co-exist in peace.
A properly functioning grama rajaya serving a defined locality will eliminate the need for people from that locality to be under obligation to politicians or be compromised by them. The concept of grama rajaya is not new but how it can be put into practice should be discussed with the people at the Grama Niladari level if the President is seriously considering Grama Rajya as an option. Asking politicians may not be productive as they may feel, in the first instance, that their power base is affected.
This requires an attitudinal change. The fear can be assuaged if the system is designed correctly so that the political leaders will have the opportunity to focus their energies on developing policies from which they can advance their careers.
It is possible that some leaders will consider the introduction of the Grama Rajya system as a distraction from their objectives for getting more powers through devolution. This objection should not hinder the introduction of the Grama Rajya system. It should be offered to the villages who want to test it now and let others follow as and when they want to follow suit later, if they so wish.
The Grama Rajyas should be financed adequately by the Central Government and substantial incentives given to achieve their goals. Banks, private companies and Sri Lankans living abroad should be co-opted to support the Grama Rajyas as their mission is an important national initiative.
Courtesy:The Island