Finance Standing Committee
Standing Committees (Sections 162 and 162A)
As per the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, each Panchayat has the following Standing Committees. The Standing Committees are a support mechanism for the Panchayat to discharge its responsibilities in the areas of development, welfare and infrastructure effectively, efficiently and in a timely manner.
Before the Panchayat takes a decision on any issue, it should be examined carefully and in detail. This examination should be carried out first by the respective standing committees. The issues should be included in the agenda of the Panchayat meeting only after discussion and decision in the Standing Committee meeting. If the Panchayat takes a decision on an issue included in this way, the concerned Standing Committees are also responsible for ensuring that the decision is implemented efficiently. The resolutions passed by the Standing Committee should be placed in the next meeting of the Panchayat. The Panchayat has the power to make changes if necessary. The Secretary should attend all Standing Committee meetings and a system should be put in place to record the minutes and decisions.
Composition of the Standing Committee
Only representatives are members of the Standing Committees. All members except the President and Vice President are elected members of any Standing Committee.
A member may not be a member of more than one standing committee.
There must be a female member on every standing committee.
All standing committees, except the Standing Committee on Finance, must have a chairperson elected from among the members of that standing committee.
The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance will be the Vice President.
The President shall be an ex-officio member of all the Standing Committees without voting rights, but the Vice-President shall be an ex-officio member and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance with voting rights. (Section 162(6))
Duties and Responsibilities of the Standing Committee
Everyone is made part of a standing committee as part of delegating the duties and responsibilities of the panchayats to all members. The duties belong to the panchayat. Not to any individual or committee. Several mechanisms have been incorporated into the administrative system to fulfill the duties of the panchayat. The most important of these are the standing committees. All the duties vested in the panchayat have been divided among various standing committees. Therefore, the panchayat has to fulfill its duties through various standing committees. Standing committees are not independent mechanisms. They do not have independent powers. When each standing committee performs the duties assigned to the panchayat by law, the administrative system becomes efficient, and participation and decentralization are created.
All decisions taken by the Standing Committees shall be presented at the next meeting of the Panchayat. The Panchayat shall have the power to amend the decisions if necessary. (Section 162A(3)1 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.
Meetings of Standing Committees (Kerala Panchayat Raj (Standing Committee) Rules, 2000)
The meeting should be held at least once a month.
The meeting shall be held at the Panchayat office on the date and time determined by the Chairperson.
The respective standing committee should consider issues related to the responsibilities of the panchayat. In case of conflicting decisions taken by different standing committees on the same issue, the matter should be referred to the panchayat for consideration.
The quorum for the meeting shall be three. However, if the number of members with voting rights is four or less, the quorum shall be two.
Decisions on agenda items are made by majority vote of the members present.
The chairman shall have the casting vote.
The meeting date and agenda items should be communicated to the ex-officio president; they should also be published on the notice board.
The decisions of the Standing Committees may be amended or repealed only by a special meeting convened by a resolution supported by more than half of the members appointed to the Standing Committee. Such amendment shall be made within three months.
The role of Standing Committees is crucial in the performance of duties of local governments. Only if the Standing Committees efficiently perform the duties assigned to them can the performance of local government be effective, rational and scientific.
Issues to be considered by the Finance Standing Committee
Finance, Taxation. Accounts, Audit, Budget, Public Administration, Taxation, Matters not referred to the Standing Committees.
Members of the Standing Committee on Finance
Chairperson - Mrs. Maryashree Prajith, Vice President & Member Ward - 16 Parambal
Members
Mrs. Rahmat. C, Member Ward - 02 Vellilod
Mrs. Shyni Saseendran, Member Ward - 08 Puzhari
Mr. Suresh K.M, Member Ward - 10 Thatiyad
