Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque :
As we know Union Parishad has a myriad of development functions. This is to promote participatory rural development at the grassroots. Yet its poor capacity disposition in finance renders it impossible to function properly to fulfil the expectation of the rural masses. Recently phenomenal growth of donors’ development projects to conduct study on union parishad as they are concerned about financial resilience and sustainable development/.
Union Parishad Functions:
1. Preparation of a comprehensive Union Plan and inclusion of inter-ward development projects after identification and prioritization.
2. Assist and cooperate for the development of primary schools, supervise their functioning and motivate people for spreading literacy.
3. Ensure provision of health services at the Union Health Centres, supervise family planning related activities and services and monitor the same. Arrange for supply of safe drinking water and promote sanitation programme.
4. Construction of inter-ward roads, maintenance of the same, management of small scale irrigation and water resources.
5. Implementation of afforestation programme along the Union Parishad roads and all earthen embankments.
6. Peaceful resolution and amicable settlement of inter ward disputes.
7. Promote social resistance over violence against women, terrorism, all types of crimes and cooperate with administration for maintenance of law and order.
8. Up-to-date registration of birth, death and marriages based on report received from Gram Parishad.
9. Assist Upazilla parishad in the preparation of inter ward agricultural and fisheries development projects and take necessary action.
10. Cooperate with and advise all agencies within the Union having credit programmes and help rural poor to participate in the same.
11. Increase awareness for women and child development and take concrete actions where necessary.
12. Encourage people to undertake cottageindustries withgood potentials nd facilitate the involvement of disadvantaged and poor people in various income generating activities.
We may an expert notes below:
The union parishad hardly can take their economic decisions independently and enjoy no autonomy regarding economic expenses. Budget is scrutinized and even often prepared by the DC or the UNO. Local MP advises, supervises and sometimes controls the mode of development expenses. Local leaders also create pressure to take decision in favor of their political party. Local donors also interrupt the autonomy of the union parishad . As the chairman is BNP supported, the UP often don’t get the govt. grants in due time. Relationship with central government: Relationship between Union Parishad and central govt. can be viewed in various aspects as follows : Relationship with local MP : Local MP straightly influence all development , administrative and economic decisions of the Union parishad . Even he indicates the sectors of expenses of the govt. grants allocated for the union parishad . Relationship with other local politicians: Local politicians pressurize the union parishad body for protecting their political and self interests . Relationship with LGRD ministry: There is no direct access of Union parishad body to the LGRD ministry. They have to communicate with the ministry either through local MP, political leader or through UNO, DC. Relationship with DC and UNO: UNO directly supervise the union for it’s functioning, planning and implementing decisions. He also sometimes scrutinizes the annual budgetof the union. While DC finalize the budget and enjoy all authorities of dissolving the union parishad committee whenever he do wish. Peoples participation: Voting: People of the union parishad can participate in decision-making process through providing their opinion during election on adult franchise basis. Co-opted membership of standing committees: For various standing committees formed by the union parishad, the educated and aged people of the locality become the co-opted members. Local judiciary system: Juries of local Darbar and village court are selected from among peoples of the locality headed over by the chairman. Development activities: For some special voluntary development activities rune by the union, local young men participate. Disaster management activities: After any calamity all people of the union work to re-cover and develop the victimized areas along with the parishad. Jatra, fair and mela : Various programs arranged by the union ensures peoples participation . Meetings: During some important meeting of the union, local people are asked to remain present. Conclusion: Although it is declared in the constitution of the people republic of Bangladesh (article 59) that there shall be elected, independent local bodies. And theoretically we know that local bodies must have taxation power. Local govt. Ordinance 1983 indicated 28 sectors from where union parishad can collect tax but it is actually remains in black and white. In practice, there is no autonomy budgeting, financial decision making and it can collect tax only from 6 sources . In this field work I also found that union parishad is highly controlled by the central govt. in various ways . Unless union parishad get financial autonomy and decentralized authority, it’s not possible to get the sweet fruit of the union parishad administration in Bangladesh
There seems to no visible improvement on the part of the Union Parishad in the relam of resource mobilization. It needs financial empowerment. Union parishad can redeem its development responsibilities if it is supported by financial autonomy.
