ICODD-at TVPM

International Conference on Deepening Democracy  through participatory Governance was held at Hotel Samudra ,Kovalam ,Thiruvananthapuram on 19^th,20^th & 21^st of January.We were also delegates from Kasaragod District.The Conference was enriched with the presence of great scholers,academics,thinkers,activists and practitioners from different part of the country and across the world. Since the inception of 73^rd and 74^th amendment bill states in India were given the opportunity to launch deep into the democracy and decentralized planning. Since then Kerala has advanced far ahead and many an experiments has been initiated and we could take great strides towards achieving better decentralized planning.The delegates from other nations and out of states didn’t mince their words in appreciating Kerala Model. But the seminar has thrown light on many drawbacks we have in different aspects of decentralized planning.Grama Sabha being the base for the decentralized planning itself lack participation. Although much effort has been made to strengthen Grama Sabha, thanks to KILA for its effort, the problem of effective participation persists. Authority still find it difficult to maintain the minium participation.Grama Sabha today is not the group of Voters but the group of people who are likely to get  benefits from the Panchayat.Here the Planning,Monitoring and supervisory functions of the Grama Sabha are not seen executed.Kudambasree has been the key for women participation and there a wonderfull transformation in women is seen.There they organize meeting,lead,keep accounts,settle issues ,save money,and earn money.By and large Kudumbasree in Kerala is in much better position than other aspects in the sense that it has been able to effect some desirable changes in the community.This force the think tank to bring down grama sabha to ward sabha,neighbourhood groups,SHG’s,with effective participation from men also. Women empowerment was also another subject for discussion and was landed controversial when some of the delegates referred that the women members in PRI,s are just puppets of the Political Parties. Some of the audience referred that this cannot be generalized and there are women in PRI,s who are good enough to take decisions. Roll of press Local Governance arrived at a disappointing note because press does not stick to its primary responsibility and there were occasions press going after profit rather than poverty. This session has attracted many attention in a full house auditorium.Some of the reference that the planning in some LSGIs is confined to clerks ,probably had opened up many eyes. Many sessions were not effective but each of them forced a new think into the audience and certainly will force them to effect a better contribution in the subject.

We the participants form Kasaragod District didn’t had much knowledge on the schedule in the Seminar and was not clear what is going to happen. We would have been much happy if at least some of us had a chance to present a paper in the seminar.Our participation itself was doubtful till the last moment because of our busy work in the office. We had a nice time in Kovalam beach relax ourselves and had better communication among us. Food was highly luxurious. The seminar was organized well and almost all the sessions were run as per schedule.

Much has been done in KERALA on decentralized planning. Let me borrow the comment of the architect of 74^th amendment Sri C K Shivaramakrishnan-“WE HAVE BURNED OUR BONE,NO GOING BACK”. Let The democracy in our country reach greater heights.