Welfare Standing Committee
Standing Committees (Section 162, 162A)
According to the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, standing committees exist for each Panchayat as per below. Standing Committees are the support mechanism for the Panchayat to effectively, efficiently and timely discharge these responsibilities in the areas of development, welfare and infrastructure.
The Panchayat should carefully and thoroughly examine any matter before taking a decision. This check should be done first by the respective Standing Committees. The issues should be included in the agenda of the Panchayat meeting after discussion in the standing committee meeting and taking a decision. If the Panchayat takes a decision on a matter so covered, the concerned Standing Committees are also responsible for ensuring that the decision is effectively implemented. Resolutions passed by the standing committee should be tabled in the next meeting of the panchayat. The Panchayat has the authority to make changes if necessary. The Secretary shall attend all Standing Committee meetings and arrange for the recording of minutes and decisions.
Composition of Standing Committee
Only the people's representatives are members of the Standing Committees. All members except the President and Vice-President are elected members of any Standing Committee.
A member shall not be a member of more than one Standing Committee.
Every standing committee must have one woman member.
The President is a non-voting ex-officio member of all Standing Committees but the Vice-President shall be an ex-officio member and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance. (Section 162(6))
Duties and Responsibilities of Standing Committee
Making everyone a part of any standing committee is part of giving the duties and responsibilities of panchayats to all members. Panchayat has the responsibilities. Not to any individual or committee. Various mechanisms have been incorporated into the administrative system to fulfill the duties of the Panchayat. Standing Committees are the most important of them. All the responsibilities vested in the Panchayat are divided among various Standing Committees. Therefore, the Panchayat has to fulfill its duties through various Standing Committees. Standing committees are not independent bodies. They also do not have independent powers. For the Panchayat, when each Standing Committee performs the duties assigned by law, the system of governance becomes efficient, partnership and decentralization are created.
All the decisions taken by the Standing Committees shall be presented in the next meeting of the Panchayat. The Panchayat has the power to amend the decisions if necessary. (Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 Section 162A(3)1.
Meetings of Standing Committees (Kerala Panchayat Raj (Standing Committee) Rules, 2000)
A meeting should be held at least once a month.
The meeting shall be held at the Panchayat Office on the date and time fixed by the Chairperson.
The respective standings are matters related to the duties of the Panchayat
Committee to consider. In the case of different Standing Committees taking conflicting decisions on the same issue, it should be given to the Panchayat for consideration.
The quorum for the meeting shall be three. But if the number of voting members is four or less, the quorum shall be two.
Decision on agenda items is by majority vote of members present.
The Chairman shall have a casting vote.
The date of the meeting and agenda items should be communicated to the ex-officio member President; It should also be published on the notice board.
The decision of the Standing Committees may be amended or revoked only by a specially convened meeting by a resolution supported by more than half of the members designated to the Standing Committee. Such amendment shall be made within three months.
The role of Standing Committees is crucial in the performance of local governments. Local government administration can be effective, rational and scientific only if the Standing Committees perform effectively the duties assigned to them.
Matters to be considered by the Standing Committee on Welfare
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development, Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, Social Security Action, Slum Reform, Poverty Alleviation and Public Distribution System.
Members of the Standing Committee on Welfare
Chairperson - Mrs. KP Kanchanavalli, Member Ward - 1 Alachery
members
Vincy Kattakkayam, Ward Member - 7 Vekkalam
C Shakundala, Ward Member- 13 Kolayad