(d) Food and Supplies Department
The department is represented at the district level
by the District Food and Supplies Controller, Rupnagar, whose office was established
in 1966. He is under the supervision and administrative control of the
Director, Food and Supplies, Punjab, Chandigarh. He is assisted by 3 District
Food and Supplies Officers (one each at Rupnagar, Anandpur Sahib and Kharar), 6
Assistant Food and Supplies Officers, 25 Inspectors, 43 Sub-Inspectors, 1 Head
Analyst, 2 Junior Analyst, and miscellaneous lower staff.
The main functions of this office are : procurement
of foodgrains; distributions of sugar, rice, wheat/atta, etc. through fair
price shops in the urban as well as rural areas; issue permits of other
essential commodities, e.g. cement, bricks, coal, kerosene, light diesel oil,
etc., issue/renewal of licences for brick-kilns, coal depots, fire-wood,
foodgrains, rice milling pulses, edible oils, cotton and yarn, etc. Under the
‘Food for Works Scheme’, the department supplies wheat at subsidized rates to
the labourers against their emoluments. Besides, the department maintains its
own godowns for storage of foodgrains.
(e) Finance Department
The department is represented at the district level
by the Treasury Officer, Rupnagar. This office was upgraded from a sub-treasury
with effect from 1 November 1986 on the reorganization of the State. The
Treasury Office is assisted by 4 Assistant Treasury Officer (one each in charge
of the sub-treasuries at Nangal, Kharar, Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib), 2
Assistant, Superintendents Treasury, 1 District Treasurer, 5 Assistant
Treasurers, and other lower staff.
The main functions of this office are to audit all
kinds of bills/cheques, etc. submitted by the Drawing and Disbursing Officer of
various departments; to prepare the daily accounts of payments/receipts of
State and Central Governments, and to submit the consolidated accounts of the
whole district to the Accountant General, Punjab, twice in every month. The
Treasury Officer also acts as a Drawing and Disbursing Officer of the
pensioners of State/Central Governments. The District Treasury is also a depot
of non-judicial, court fee and other kings of stamps.
(f) Planning Department
The office of District Statistical Office, Rupnagar,
was established in 1966. The District Statistical Officer is assisted by two
Technical Assistants. His main functions are to collect, analyse, compile and
publish statistical data of the various offices at the district level; to
conduct ad-hoc socio-economic surveys; to provide technical guidance to other
departments for survey work; to collect price data for supplying to the
different Central and State agencies; to collect weekly retail prices, to
prepare village directory, and to formulate district plans, etc.
(g) Language Department
The department is represented as the district level
by the District Language Officer, Rupnagar, whose office was established in
1962. The District Language Officer is assisted by an Instructor, a Clerk, a
part-time Urdu Teacher and a Peon.
The main activities of this office are to assure
encouragement to Punjabi in Administration and education along with development
of Punjabi language and literature; to impart training in Punjabi shorthand and
typewriting; to organize literacy meetings, kavi darbars (poetic symposia) and
to dramas and debates; to undertake linguistic survey and to bring out district
glossaries of words, idioms, proverbs, folk-tales, folk-songs, customs,
rituals, sports, etc.; to recommend financial assistance to literacy men and
institutions / organizations; to collect manuscripts and recognize services of
writers and artists; to hold and supervise the class in Urdu language; to sell
various departmental publications; and to assist the Government officers in
translating pamphlets/books in Punjabi. The District Language Officer also
visits various government offices/institutions in the districts to guide the
staff. Since its inception, this department has been endeavouring the promotion
of Punjabi Language.
(h) Soil Conservation and Engineering Department
The Soil Conservation and Engineering Department is
represented in the District by the Assistant Soil Conservation Officer, Rupnagar.
His Office was established in September 1973 at Saroya and then shifted to
Rupnagar on 1 April 1974. He is assisted by 4 agricultural inspectors, 3
agricultural sub-inspectors/surveyors, 1 draftsman, 2 tracers, 2 patwaris, 2
clerks, besides some other ministerial and class IV staff.
The main functions of the Department are the
execution of land improvement schemes which include soil conservation, the
improvement of the irrigation system by constructing pucca water channels, the
laying of underground irrigation system and installing the sprinkler irrigation
system in the fields of the cultivator. It also undertakes the levelling of
land, so that proper irrigation can be provided.
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
(a) Evolution of Local Self Government in the District
Local
self-government is a system of management and administration of an area
through representatives drawn from the area itself. These representatives are
usually elected democratically to the institutions responsible for governing at
local level. The local bodies function for towns, e.g., municipal committees,
as well as for rural areas, e.g., village panchayats. In Punjab, there is a
strong tradition of development of decentralised power at the local level, and
the set up of the local self-government bodies had the sanction of specific
statutes. The local bodies draw their powers from legislature enactments. The
arrangements encourage widest participants of the local population in villages
and towns, in the process of government. It also assures proper appreciation of
local problems, and accelerated decision making on local issues.
Historical
Retrospect :- India had had self government institutions from the earliest
period of recorded history. The village communities, such as, the Sabha and
Samiti of the ancient times and the village panchayats of the medieval ages,
all flourished as autonomous units and discharged many functions now performed
by the present day local bodies. The foundation of the modern system of
municipal government in India as it
exists today was laid by the British.
The earliest Act in the Punjab dealing with
municipal administration was the Municipal Act, 1867, which was an important
step in the development of municipal bodies. The Act was repealed by the
Municipal Act, 1873, which aimed at providing for conservancy, local
improvements and education in the towns of the Punjab and for levying taxes in
them. In 1882, Lord Ripon (1880-84) issued a comprehensive resolution
recommending the removal of all the existing defects in the local bodies and
also making them instruments of political education. Lord Ripon attempted to
develop local self-government as a political instrument of public
administration. He suggested that the principle of election should be
introduced and the proportion of official members in the institution reduced.
In this manner, he wanted to transfer increasing powers to the popular
representatives of the people. The reforms proposed by Lord Ripon led to be
overhauling of Act IV of 1873 and the Punjab Municipal Act, 1884. The later Act
was repealed by the Municipal Act of 1891, which only introduced such changes
as experience had proved to be desirable. The Act of 1884, however, continued
to be the foundation of the municipal administration in the Punjab.
The Royal Commission of Decentralization, 1909, laid
stress on the importance of village panchayats and recommended that the
Government control over the local government should be relaxed. The Punjab was
the first province to incorporate the Royal Commission’s recommendations in a
statute. The Punjab Municipal Act was passed in 1911, which with certain
modifications is still the basis of municipal Government in Punjab.
In the period 1919-1937, the British developed a
system to be known as dyarchy, which implied government shared by two point
authorities or rules. Under these arrangements, official control was gradually
relaxed and local bodies were made completely elective. It was desired to
establish local self-government, whereby the people would be free to manage
their own affairs. The Government of India Act, 1919, prescribed a new scheme
of taxes, which could be levied by, or for the local bodies. This measure not
only enlarged the sphere to taxation but also enabled the local bodies to feel
relatively independent. The Punjab Small Towns Act, 1922 simplified the
machinery for the municipal administration of small towns each with a
population of less than 10,000. The Punjab, Municipal (Executive Officer) Act,
1931, invested the Provincial Government with powers to appoint Executive
Officers in the municipalities.
After Independence of the country, the concept of
local self-government was further enlarged. The municipalities were called upon
to shoulder greater responsibilities for municipal administration and to
improve the physical set-up in the towns. New election rules have been framed
to provide free election on the basis of universal adult franchise. Provision
has also been made for the reservation of seats in municipalities for the
members of the Scheduled Castes.
The term of office of municipal commissioners in the
State is five years.
(b) Organisation and Structure
Functions and Duties of Municipal Committees :-
Statutorily,
the Punjab municipal bodies have two
types of functions, viz. obligatory and optional. Obligatory functions
are those which every municipal committee has to perform and if for their
performance the committee does not make sufficient provision in its budget,
then the State Government compels it to do so, and if the committee fails to
perform these functions satisfactorily, then the State Government may suspend
or even supersede the committee and assume direct control of its
administration. Obligatory functions require action in four main areas, viz.,
public safety and convenience, the regulation of offensive or dangerous trades,
removing of obstructions and projections in public streets, lighting and
cleansing of public streets, extinguishing of fires, provision and regulation
of slaughter-houses, burail grounds, latrines, picnic spots, drains and sewers,
registration of birth and deaths, public vaccination, inoculation, primary
education, etc.
The
list of optional functions includes construction and maintenance of public
streets, establishing and maintaining public parks, gardens, libraries,
museums, dharmshalas, rest houses, lunatic asylums, furthering educational
programmes other than primary education, planting and maintaining of roadside
trees, arranging for the destruction of stray dogs, maintaining dairy farms and
breeding studs, holding of exhibitions, etc.
As
on 31 March 1986, there were 5 municipalities in the district at Rupnagar,
Morinda, Kharar, Kurali and Anandpur Sahib. On the basis of classification made
by the government, 3 of these fall in Class II and 2 in Class III. Besides,
there are 3 notified area committees at Nangal, Naya Nangal and S.A.S. Nagar.
The details regarding the income and expenditure of the municipalities during
1978-79 to 1982-83 are given in Appendix at the end of the Chapter. The sources
of income of the municipalities include octroi, house tax, toll tax, some taxes
on entertainment, and on certain trades and activities, along with some minor
taxes.
Rupnagar,
Municipality was first constituted in 1867. It is a Class II municipal
committee. The committee had 15 members in all when general elections were held
last on 10 June 1979. Two of them were co-opted members.
According
to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 25 sq.
km. and its population was 25,165.
The
various civic amenities provided by the committee include water-supply, street
lighting, pakka drains and arrangements for cleanliness of the town and
disposal of refuse. The water supply scheme was introduced in July 1961. The
committee also maintains about 8.85 km of roads within the municipal limits.
Municipal
Committee Morinda was constituted in 1950. It is a Class II municipal
committee. In 1982-83, it had 15 members.
According
to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 3.00 sq.
km. and its population was 13,502.
The
various civic amenities provided by the committee include street lighting,
arrangements for cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse. The committee maintains
about 6.5 km or roads within the municipal limits. It also maintains a library
along with a reading-room.
Municipal
Committee Kharar was first constituted in 1967. It is Class II committee. The
committee had 16 members.
According
to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 4.20
sq. km and its population was 21,807.
The
various civic amenities provided by the committee include water-supply, street
lighting, drainage, and arrangements for the cleanliness of the town and
disposal of refuse. The committee maintains about 8 km of roads within the
municipal limits. It also maintains a library along with reading-room.
Municipal
Committee Kurali was constituted in 1959. It is a Class II committee. The
committee had 14 members.
According
to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 7.40
sq. km. and its population was 12,637.
The
various civic amenities provided by the committee include water supply, street
lighting, pakka drains and arrangements for cleanliness of the town and
disposal of refuse. The water-supply scheme was introduced during the year
1978-79 and a sum of Rs. 7 lakhs have been spent on it. Open surface
drains were introduced during the year
1962-63. The committee also maintains about 5 km of roads within the municipal
limits.
Anandpur
Sahib Municipality was first constituted in 1867. It is a Class II committee.
It had 15 members, four of whom were co-opted.
According
to the 1981 Census, the area of town within the municipal limits was 3.00 sq.
km. and its population was 8,571.
The
various civic amenities provided by the committee include street lighting,
pakka drains and arrangements for cleanliness of the town and disposal of
refuse. The drainage system was introduced in 1969-70. The committee maintains
about 1 km of roads within the municipal limits.
As
explained in another section, the twin towns of Nangal and Naya Nangal were
established along with the Bharka
Nangal Project. The character of these towns is different from that of other in
the state, in that the population is dependent almost entirely on the
functioning of two major projects, the Bhakra Nangar Project and the Fertilizer
Factory in Naya Nangal. Of late, the StateGovernment has also set up some
public sector companies, such as the Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd. and the
Punjab National Fertilizers Ltd. in Naya Nangal. The two towns are served by
two separate notified area committees.
Formed
in 1953, Nangal N.A.C. now had 11 members. According to the 1981 Census, the
area of the town within the limits of the notified area committee was 3.39 sq.
km. and its population was 25,523.
The
various civic amenities provided by the committee include street lighting,
drains and arrangements for cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse. The
drainage system was introduced in 1977. The committee maintains about 36.5 km
of roads within its areas. It also maintain
a reading-room.
Formed
in 1961, the N.A.C. Naya Nangal had 7 nominated members. Since 1978-79, it has
been running a college and a Model School for primary classes. According to the
1981 Census, the area of the town within the limits of the notified area
committee was 14.92 sq. km. and its population was 10,390.
The
various civic amenities provided by the committee include arrangements for the
cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse. It also maintains a library.
A
Notified Area Committee S.A.S. Nagar was also formed in December 1983. It had 9
nominated members. According to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within
the limits of the N.A.S. was 12.40 sq. km. and its population was 32,351.
(c) Town and Country Planning and Housing
The office of the Divisional Town Planner, Patiala
Division, Patiala, was first set up at Chandigarh on 1 April, 1967 which was later
on shifted to Patiala and it started functioning on 24 April 1967. Besides the
Patiala District, the jurisdiction of the office also extends to the Rupnagar
District. The Divisional Town Planner is responsible for initiating programmes
of city development and controlling and organising urban development. The
office prepares master plans for towns as well as for other areas, which serve
as a blueprint for future development.
This office has undertaken the preparation of Master
Plans of various Class I and Class II towns in the Rupnagar District. Sahibzada
Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) has been planned as a full-fledged city with its
industrial area and other daily amenities and city requirements. The
preparation of a comprehensive plan of Chandigarh-Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar
(Mohali) Region as an inter-State Region has been taken up in collaboration
with the Government of Haryana and Chandigarh Union Territory, Administration.
The Chandigarh-Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) Regional Plan suggests the location
of new industries in the large and medium sectors to achieve industrial
dispersal and linkages between graded urban settlements and an integrated
programme of rural development. The office has also undertaken pilot studies
for the preparation of an Integrated Area
Development Plans of various development blocks including Nurpur Bedi,
Majri, Chamkaur Sahib and Kharar blocks of the Rupnagar District.
To make available planned house sites with all
public amenities and services in the urban areas, development schemes and new
urban estates are planned. Similarly, town planning schemes are also prepared
for potential vacant lands within the municipal areas. Besides, through
re-development schemes. densities have
been reduced in some areas and non-conforming used discontinued.
Residential services have been provided, streets have been widened and the
overall environment of the areas has been improved. Buildings and area which
have a special character or are of historical significance have been preserved
as such. Some of the notable re-development schemes include the improvement of
approach areas and environs of the important centres of tourist attraction and
pilgrimage such as Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib in the Rupnagar District.
The new mandis are developed so as to provide for
grain shops, adequate areas for auction platforms, circulation and parking,
service facilities for farmer vehicles, farmer rest houses, godowns, etc.
Besides, to check unplanned development and mushroom growth around the cities, large
areas around important cities and towns have been notified as “Controlled
Areas” under a relevant Act.
Basically, this office renders technical advice to
the various departments including municipalities and Improvement Trusts and it
co-ordinates with them in the preparation and implementation of developmental
works. Town Planning Schemes are prepared under section 192 of the Punjab
Municipal Act, 1911.
Rupnagar
Improvement Trust, Rupnagar :- Formed in November 1972 under the Punjab Town
Improvement Act, 1922, the trust has 8 members including the Chairman. The term
of their office is three years.
The trust is required to enforce the planned
expansion of the town and provide civic amenities. It has undertaken various
improvement plans/schemes for the developments of the city, i.e., street
schemes and deferred street schemes, development and expansion schemes, housing
accommodation schemes, re-housing schemes and slum improvement schemes.
The main sources of the income of the Improvement
Trust are : sale of trust land after providing the amenities in the schemes
and loan from the Government. The income and expenditure of the Rupnagar
Improvement Trust, Rupnagar, during the year 1982-83 were Rs. 30,01,000 and Rs.
25,63,000, respectively.
(d) Panchayati Raj
The panchayats functions as
the miniature republics at village level. Important amendments have been
carried out in the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952, and the Panchayat Samitis
and Zila Prishads Act, 1961, to strengthen the working of the Panchayati Raj institutions
at all levels. It is envisaged to provide enhanced representation to the weaker
sections,
All programmes pertaining to developments in
agriculture, animal husbandry, dairying, soil and water conservation minor
irrigation, communications, education, rural health and sanitation, uplift of
the weaker segments of society, including women and children, contribute to the
some underlying objective of integrated rural development. Their successful
implementation depends on the Community Development Organization, the principal
extension agency which had motivated the rural people and stimulated in them
the urge for a better and fuller life. The panchayats formulate some village
developments plans and tap local resources for their execution.
Although the structure of Panachayati Raj is
established at all levels in all the districts in the state, including
Rupnagar, the role of these institutions in Rural Development has in recent
years tended to diminish in importance.
The main reason has been that the expanded activities of development have
confined different departments to their specialised role. Also improved
communication between villages and towns has made rural areas more accessible
to departmental specialists in various disciplines, which often makes panchayat
involvement in specialised activities redundant. The village local bodies, do,
however provide representative leadership, and aid the co-ordination of many
development activities at village level.
The Community Development Programmes was established
in the State on 2 October 1961. Thereafter, the role of the local institutions
had been defined from time to time.
Gram
Panchayats :- The gram panchayats form the base of the pyramid of local
government. Most state leaders begin their career as member of panchayats-panch
or sarpanch.
The panchayat movement in Punjab goes back to 1912, when the Panchayat Act, 1912 was
passes. The Act established benches to try specified suits, etc. under local
and special laws. The Act was repealed by the Punjab Village Panchayat Act,
1921 (Punjab Act III of 1922), which provided for the constitution of
panchayats consisting of elected panches holding office for 3 years. The
panches were to elect a sarpanch for one year and also a deputy sarpanch. The
panchayats were given administrative functions and powers, and judicial powers,
both criminal and civil. The Act of 1922 was repealed by the Punjab Village
Panchayat Act, 1939 (Punjab Act XI of 1939).
While the object of the 1922 Act was to foster and
develop local self-government in the rural areas of the Punjab, the object of
the 1939 Act was to consolidate and extend the law relating to the panchayats.
The scope of administrative and judicial functions of the panchayats was
enlarged. The panchayats were allowed, with the previous sanction of the
Government to levy any tax which the Provincial Legislature had power to impose
under the Government of India Act, 1935.
The Act of 1939 was repealed by the Punjab Gram
Panchayat Act, 1952 (Punjab Act IV of 1953) with the object of providing for
better administration in the rural areas of Punjab by panchayats. This Act was
sponsored in pursuance of the famous Directive Principles of State Policy
embodied in Article 40 of the Constitution enjoining upon the State to
organise, panchayats and endow them with the necessary authority. Under this
Act, the scope of powers-both administrative and judicial-of panchayats was
further enlarged; 10 per cent of the land revenue was assigned to panchayats;
levy of house tax was made obligatory on every panchayat and provision was made
for the establishment of panchayat unions to advise the panchayats within their
jurisdiction in the performance of administrative duties. For the first time,
provision was made for the election of panches on the basis of universal adult
franchise.
The Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952, was amended in
1960, as a step towards the establishment of Panchayati Raj in the State. Under
the Act, a gram sabha may be constituted for any village or group of contiguous
villages with a population of not less than 500,and a gram panchayat is elected
for the gram sabha area and not for each village. The panches are elected by
the adults entered as voters on the electoral rolls for the State Legislative
Assembly in force for the time being and pertaining to the gram panchayat area.
There is provision for co-opting women and members of Scheduled Castes in
panchayats, where these categories do not gain membership by education,
Formerly, each panchayat consisted of 5 to 9 members including sarpanch and a
lady panch. Under the new ordinance of the Punjab Government promulgated in
June 1978, a village would elect five to eleven panches depending upon its
population. This number could go up to thirteen where co-option of members
became necessary,
Previously under the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act,
1952, the panches elected the sarpanch from among themselves. Later on from
June 1972, this mode of indirect election was changed into a direct one.
Accordingly, the panched as well as the sarpanches were directly elected by the
voters. This system of direct election continued till the middle of June 1978
when under the ordinance of Punjab Government, the mode of election was again
made indirect. The panchayat may remove a sarpanch by a motion of non-confidence
passed by at least two-third of the panches. No such motion can be sponsored
without the previous permission of the Director, Rural Development and
Panchayats, Punjab, Chandigarh. Members of the panchayat may be removed by the
Government on specified grounds. Removal entails disqualification for
re-election for a period up to five years.
Under the Act, a gram panchayat is to meet at least
once a month at a place within the gram panchayat area. All the decisions of
the panchayat are taken by majority and, when the voting is equal, the sarpanch
has an additional or casting vote.
At the district headquarters, District Development
and Panchayat Officer co-ordinates the working of the panchayats in the
district, In order to impart training to the panches and sarpaches of the
panchayats in the State, a training scheme has been in operation for some
years.
In 1982-83, there were 716 panchayats in the
Rupnagar District with a total nembership of 4,918.
Functions
The
panchayat play a vital role in the democratic set-up of the State not only as
primary units of local Government but also as basic units of administration.
Under the Punjab, Gram Panchayat Act, 1952, the panchayats have also been
vested with judicial and executive powers. In criminal cases, they have been
given powers to try certain minor offences like petty theft, hurt, affray, and
commission of public nuisance. For this purpose, they are under the control of
the District Magistrate, who can hear appeals against their orders, and
transfer case from one panchayat to another. On the civil and revenues side,
the panchayats have been given powers to try certain civil revenue judicial
cases and in respect of these cases, they are under the control of the District
Judge and the Collector, respectively.
Besides
judicial work, the panchayats look to the requirements of their respective
areas in regard to agriculture, education, animal husbandry, public health and
sanitation including water supply, works of public utility, game and sports,
industries, medical health and relief of the poor. They are expected to arrange
50 per cent of the cost of local development works sponsored by the Development
Department, either in cash, kind or labour, and with the help of the concerned departments, and they have
established a number of single teacher primary schools, constructed new school
new school buildings, besides providing drinking water arrangements in the
schools. They have also provided community listening sets, constructed and
repaired panchayat ghars, and undertaken many other development activities at
village level, including the planting of trees, arranging playgrounds and
children parks, construction of village approach roads, repairing and levelling
of public paths, constructions of drains, construction of culverts and pavement
of streets, construction, repair and remodelling of wells for drinking water
and remodelling and repairing of ponds.
Various
steps have also been taken to strengthen the panchyat organisation. A the
village level, trained Gram Sevikas, Bal Sevikas and craft teachers impart
training to village women in handicrafts, home management, health and
envirionmental sanitation, nutrition, child care, and family planning etc. They
manage balwadis for children and organise women and girls into Mahila and
Yuvati Mandals, respectively.
Panchayat
Samitis :- The law relating to the Gram Panchayats / Panchayat Samitis is the
Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952, Punjab Act IV of 1953, as subsequently amended
and the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zial Prishads Act, 1961. The structure
consists of three tiers, viz. a Panchayat at the village level, a Panchayat
Samiti at the block level, and a Zila Parishad at the district level.
The
district is divided into 6 community development blocks. There is one panchayat
samiti for each block. According to the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zial
Parishads Act, each panchayat samiti consists of 17 members elected by the Panches and Sarpanches from
amongst themselves; two members elected by the co-operative societies; and one
member elected by the market committees. Besides, every M.L.A. in whose
constituency a samiti fall is automatically an associate members2.
Two women and four persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, if not elected
otherwise are co-opted as member. One person from amongst any of the Backward
Classes is also co-opted as a member. The Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) and
the Block Development and Panchayat Officer of the block, work as ex-officio-
members, without the right to vote. The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman are
elected from amongst the elected members and their term of office is five
years.
The
panchayat samitis play an important role in the development of he villages.
They act as the main extension agency for mobilisation and motivation of rural community
for raising agricultural production and economic improvement. The main
functions of the panchayat samitis relate to agriculture, animal husbandry,
fisheries, health and rural sanitation, communication, social education,
co-operation, village industries, public places and buildings of public utility
and other miscellaneous and additional matters. Their activities also include
agricultural extension and minor irrigation, health and rural sanitation and
nutrition programmes.
The
main sources of income of the panchayat samitis are : local rate, fees
derived from school and markets, fee from fairs and shows, rents and profits
accruing from properties vested in it, and such money and grants which
Government may place at its disposal. Besides, each panchayat samiti can, with
the permission of the zial parishad, impose any tax which the State Legislature
has power to impose under the Constitution.
Sources of Revenue
The
main sources of income of the panchayats are
: grant-in-aid from Government,
grants-in-aid from local bodies, a percentage of land revenue collection,
donations, taxes, duties, cesses and fees, income from village common lands,
sale of proceeds of dust, dirt and dung, etc. The fines and penalties which the
panchayats impose are also transferred to the funds.
The
income of the panchayats in the Rupnagar District, during 1978-79 to 1982-83,
is given below :-
|
|
Source of income |
1978-79 (Rs.) |
1979-80 (Rs.) |
1980-81 (Rs.) |
1981-82 (Rs.) |
1982-83 (Rs.) |
|
1. |
Grand from Government |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i) Grants-in-aids from Government |
5,31,766 |
32,76,272 |
29,77,476 |
62,40,378 |
30,92,827 |
|
|
ii) Grants-in-aids from local
bodies |
1,64,301 |
1,42,058 |
1,15,000 |
2,40,123 |
2,07,650 |
|
2. |
Voluntary contributions |
35,875 |
69,946 |
43,261 |
1,17,586 |
5,79,883 |
|
3. |
House Tax |
1,94,573 |
2,30,092 |
2,22,740 |
2,48,957 |
2,70,551 |
|
|
Total |
9,26,515 |
37,18,368 |
33,58,477 |
68,47,044 |
41,50,911 |
(
Source : Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab, Chandigarh)
Zila
Parishads :- Prior to the formation of zila parishads in the State, the
princiapl units of rural local Government were district boards. They were
constituted and administered under the Punjab District Boards Act, 1883. Like
the municipal committees, district boards were charged generally with the
adoption of measures likely to promote the safety, health, welfare, comfort and
convenience and interest of the people living within their jurisdiction. The
Zila Parishads, Rupnagar was consititued on 1 May 1962, under the Punjab
Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Act, 1961.
The
zila parishads has as its members Chairmen of all the panchayat samitis in the district,
two members elected by each panchayat samiti, the M.P. and M.L.A., representing
the district or any part thereof, and the Deputy Commissioner. Four women and
five members belonging to the Scheduled Castes and two members of the Backward
Classes, if not elected otherwise are co-opted as members. The M.Ps, M.L.Aa.
and the Deputy Commissioner do not have the right to vote. The Zila Parishad
ahs a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, elected by the primary members, Chairman of
the panchayat samitis and co-opted members, from amongst themselves, for five
years. The Secretary of the Zila Parishads is appointed by the Government.
The
Zila Parishad, Rupnagar was superseded in October 1978 and has not been
re-constituted so far. Since the super-session
of the Zila Parishad, the Deputy Commissioner is functioning as its
administrator.
The
Zila Parishad, Rupangar, has been entrusted with various development activities
required to co-ordinate at district level. Its main functions and activities
are to watch and guide financial and budgetary
position of panchayat samitis and to execute construction work through
Panchayati Raj Public Works in rural areas. Besides, it runs 2 civil rural
dispensaries and 12 civil veterinary hospitals in the district.
The
Zila Parishad, Rupangar, does not impose any tax, The main sources of income
are State Government funds allotted to it and local rate. The income and
expenditure of the Zila Parishad, Rupnagar, during 1978-79 to 1982-83, are
given below :-
|
Year |
Income (Rs.) |
Expenditure (Rs.) |
|
1978-79 |
21,25.424 |
21,28,845 |
|
1979-80 |
33,75,897 |
20,29,792 |
|
1980-81 |
15,38,213 |
22,65,566 |
|
1981-82 |
16,75,053 |
21,01,695 |
|
1982-83 |
25,95,545 |
27,43,696 |
( Source
: Secretary, Zila Parishad,
Rupnagar)
(Vide Page 334)
APPENDIX
Income and Expenditure of Municipalities in the Rupnagar District in 1978-79 to 1982-83
|
|
Name of Municipality |
Particulars |
Years |
||||
|
|
|
|
1978-79 (Rs.000) |
1979-80 (Rs.000) |
1980-81 (Rs.000) |
1981-82 (Rs.000) |
1982-83 (Rs.000) |
|
|
Tahsil Rupnagar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Rupnagar |
Income |
1,618 |
1,732 |
1,858 |
2,095 |
2,227 |
|
|
|
Expenditure |
1,649 |
1,867 |
1,764 |
2,012 |
2,400 |
|
2 |
Morinda |
Income |
826 |
919 |
1,089 |
1,051 |
1,136 |
|
|
|
Expenditure |
813 |
904 |
973 |
1,178 |
1,135 |
|
|
Tahsil Kharar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
Kharar |
Income |
957 |
1,117 |
924 |
1,075 |
1,148 |
|
|
|
Expenditure |
972 |
1,045 |
1,026 |
1,053 |
1,105 |
|
4 |
Kurali |
Income |
871 |
914 |
1,307 |
1,264 |
1,357 |
|
|
|
Expenditure |
745 |
1,020 |
1,325 |
1,066 |
1,624 |
|
|
Tahsil Anandpur Sahib |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
Anandpur Sahib |
Income |
271 |
307 |
664 |
714 |
1,524 |
|
|
|
Expenditure |
234 |
316 |
630 |
469 |
726 |
|
6 |
Nangal |
Income |
862 |
891 |
1,045 |
1,275 |
1,767 |
|
|
|
Expenditure |
913 |
855 |
907 |
1,355 |
1,516 |
|
7 |
Naya Nangal |
Income |
4,494 |
3,532 |
4,619 |
10,635 |
12,202 |
|
|
|
Expenditure |
2,681 |
3,075 |
9,977 |
12,171 |
12,262 |
( Source : Abstracts
of Punjab, 1978 to 1983)
EDUCATION AND CULTURE
(a) Historical Background
Rupnagar is considered educationally a backward
district. In the past as distant as the late nineteenth century, the form of education
in the district was similar to that in the rest of the State. The Settlement
Report of Mr. Wynyard mentions the following six types of indigenous schools in
the present territory of the district in 1853 :-
1.
Maktabs, where Persian
was taught.
2.
Chatsals, where Hindi
was taught.
3.
Pathshalas, where
Nagri or Shastri was taught.
4.
Maktabs, where Arabic
was taught.
5.
Gurmukhi Schools,
where Gurmukhi was taught.
6.
English Schools, where
English was taught.
Education in most of these schools concentrated on
the study of religious teachings. In the Maktabs, the study of Koran was given
prime importance, besides the learning of Persian and Arabic. These Mkatabs,
also called Persian Schools, were maintained by the Maulvis, and were not
exclusively meant for Muslims but open to all communities. However, these
schools were not very popular in the district. Chatsals or Hindi schools were meant for mercantile and
trading communities for learning various tachygraphic forms of lande (an
accounting script for shopkeeps), Mahajani (for merchants), and sarafi (for
bankers). For Sanskrit learning, there were pathshalas. Gurumukhi schools were
attached to village gurudwaras or dharamshalas.
With the advancement in human learning, the old
system became obsolete and was replaced by well-organized schools maintained by
government local bodies and private enterprise. In1891, the London Baptist
Mission School was started at Kharar. It was raised to the status of a high
school in 1910. Its special features were
‘agricultural and tailoring classes’, and a ‘co-operative society’ for
the purchase of books, stationary, etc. for the students. The Municipal Board,
Ropar, also maintained a high school with a grant-in-aid from the Government.
There were also vernacular middle schools, one
each at Kharar and Morinda. Besides, there was another angio-vernacular
middle school, viz. Khalsa School at Chamkaur Sahib, managed by a religious
body.
In addition to a number of primary schools, there
were two schools for girls, one at Kharar, managed by the Baptist Mission and
the other at Anandpur Sahib, managed by the District Board. There was also an
Industrial School at Rupnagar, maintained by the Municipal Board. Academic
training was upto the 5th class only, but the school also imparted
in training in carpentry and drawing. The oldest college in the district is
Government College, Rupnagar, stated in 1945.
After the Independence of the country in 1947, the
Government gave priority to the expansion of education with an avowed policy of
arranging free and compulsory education. As a result, the educational
institutions multiplied. On 1 October, 1957, the Punjab Government took the
bold step of provincializing the schools run by local bodies. Education in
Government school is free upto the middle standard. In line with the
recommendations of the Higher Secondary Education Commission most of the high
schools were converted into higher secondary schools by the additions of class
XI . Four new degree colleges are now functioning in Anandpur Sahib, Chamkaur
Sahib, Morinda and Bhago Majra (Kharar). A college of Physical Education in the
Punjab State was started at Bhago Majra in 1976. This is the only degree
institution in the district run by a private organisation.
There has been rapid increase in the number
of educational institutions in the district since 1966, there were 1 college,
46 high/higher secondary schools, 40 middle schools and 427 primary/basic
primary schools in the district. In 1982-83, this number rose to 8 colleges
(including a College of Physical Education), 131 high/higher secondary schools,
69 middle schools, and 867 primary/basic primary schools.