For a more efficient Local Government system

With elections to all local bodies now concluded baring a few Urban Councils and Municipalities it is time that these grassroots institutions of the people get down to a solid job of work to justify the faith and trust reposed by the voters in their elected representatives. We say this because today a majority of these local bodies are known for their lethargy and apathy with elected members distanced from the larger masses once ensconced in office.

The PR system no doubt has contributed to this state of affairs with members elected haphazardly denying certain wards and locales with due representation. It is time therefore to expedite the exit of this anomalous system so that the electors will have a representative of their choice and more importantly those whom they could identify with to have their grievances attended to. It has been announced that the next local poll will be held under the old ward system and hopefully this would come to pass redressing many of the anomalies of the present system.

This is also an appropriate time to analyze and take stock of the role and functions of Local Government institutions in their present state. It is the view of most observers and experts that our Local Government institutions are in a moribund state in their present formation and more or less behind the times failing to meet the new demands and aspirations of the grassroots population for which they are primarily meant.

In the minds of a majority these institutions merely exist to serve the vested interests of the elected members for whom local bodies have became a lucrative source of income in the form of tenders, contracts and what have you with the larger interest of the masses mostly ignored.

While not all local bodies could be lumped into this category (there are indeed institutions which have performed exceptionally and even won national recognition for their services) certain bodies are lax in the discharge of their public duties and are a burden to the ratepayers of the particular Local Government institutions.

Most of these bodies get galvanized into action only when elections draw near as seen from the frenzied work carried out such as road repairs and mending broken culverts etc. in the run up to the elections. This state of affairs must end and the elected bodies must earn their keep by showing results. First and foremost the elected members should be in touch with the masses rather than emulate their Parliamentary colleagues who venture into their constituencies only during election time. Being grassroots politicians it is assumed that this would not be a difficult task. For rapport with the people is important not only to obtain a first hand knowledge of the needs and aspirations of the people but will also hold these grassroots politicians in good stead for their political future on a bigger stage.

This of course does not mean that these politicians should be solely motivated in the use of this bottom tier in the political totem pole as a springboard to emerge into the national political stage.

Today we see this more as the norm than the exemption with local bodies including Provincial Councils loaded with the kith and kin of politicians of all hues - a stale of affairs which is detrimental to the working of Local Government institutions which essentially are grassroots entities dealing with the mundane issues connected to the masses.

It is in this backdrop that the definite steps taken by the Local Government Ministry to make full use of the local bodies to make them more people friendly and active should be saluted. This is a sign that the government has fully appreciated the important role that the Local Government institutions could play particularly in the context of expanded development activities that are taking place in post war Sri Lanka. In this regard there is also a crying need to revamp and overhaul the system of Local Government institutions to meet the rapid changes taking place in the modern world and a proper orientation given to members of local bodies particularly those in the rural areas so that they could adapt to the changes thus providing a better and more efficient service to the people.

To begin with most of the cumbersome procedures and lengthy formalities that confuse the people should be done away with. In this regard the measures taken by the Local Government Ministry to simplify procedures is a move in the right direction.

As pointed out by Secretary to the Local Government Ministry Dr Nihal Jayathilaka speaking to our weekend publication the Sunday Observer... "people who want their building plans approved by the local authority spend several months at these bodies as we found that the forms that need to be filled for the purpose are very complicated and cannot be easily understood by the masses".

It is time that our Local Government bodies are made to undergo a qualititative transformation so that they can function as truly people oriented service institutions and justify the enormous financial resources expended on them by the taxpayer.