Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday called for the devolution of the 3Fs i.e, Funds, Functions, and Functionaries, to strengthen rural local governments and accomplish national development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He asked the Union Government and various States to enable the devolution of the 3Fs from Zilla Parishads to Panchayats at the National Stakeholders Conference on 'Localization of Sustainable Development Goals' convened by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. "By strengthening and empowering rural local bodies, they may be regenerated and rejuvenated," he added.
The Vice President, while speaking about the increase in fund allocation to rural local bodies from Rs 100 per capita per year in the 10th Finance Commission to Rs 674 per capita per year in the 15th Finance Commission, said the funds should go directly into their accounts with no diversion, dilution, or deviation. Similarly, any grants intended for people should go directly to the recipients.
As per the Vice President's Secretariat, Naidu stated that because over 70% of India is rural (68.84 percent according to the 2011 census), achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level will necessitate efforts at the village level, or Panchayat level.
He noted that while the most important goal is to eliminate poverty, other equally vital tasks include providing education to all boys and girls, assuring the delivery of critical services such as safe drinking water, and establishing adequate work opportunities.
He expressed his delight that women make up 46% of the country's 31.65 lakh elected members in rural local bodies, but added that adequate participation in legislatures and other law-making bodies is needed. "Empowering women empowers society," he continued.
“Education, employment, entertainment” helps stop migration of people from villages: VP
VP urges recognizing contribution of unsung heroes of the freedom struggle
