J'khand pushes for ISO tag for all 4,000 panchayats

IN a first, Jharkhand will convert all 4,000 panchayats as model panchayats and facilitate them to get ISO certification from Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), an autonomous body under Kerala's Ministry of local government.

- MUKESH RANJAN

On a pilot basis, 50 panchayats across the state have been identified for the certification, which will be expanded gradually in phases depending on its success.

A draft has been prepared by the State Panchayati Raj Department in association with Civil Society Organisations (CSO-Forum) for the same.

Notably, a few legislators along with the CSO forum recently visited Kerala and took stock of the Panchayati Raj arrangements in the state, following which, a decision was taken also to develop model panchayats in the state.

According to officials, the state government has also signed MoU with KILA for the overall development of panchayats in Jharkhand. The move aims at decentralising of powers and strengthening the local self-government system.