Finance Standing Committee
Standing Committees (Section 162, 162A)
As per the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, there are Standing Committees for each Panchayat as follows. 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 as an agenda in 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 relevant Standing Committees are also responsible for ensuring that that 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 Standing Committee
Only the representatives of the people are members of the Standing Committees. All the members except the President and the 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 shall have at least one woman member.
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 with voting rights and the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance. (Section 162(6))
Duties and Responsibilities of the Standing Committee
As part of assigning the duties and responsibilities of the Panchayats to all members, everyone is made part of a standing committee. 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)
Shall meet at least once a month.
The meeting shall be held at the Panchayat office on such date and time as may be fixed by the Chairperson.
The Standing Committee shall consider matters relating to the functions of the Panchayat. In case of conflicting decisions on the same matter by different Standing Committees, the matter shall 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.
The decision on the agenda items shall be by majority vote of the members present.
The Chairperson shall have the casting vote.
The date of the meeting and the agenda items shall be communicated to the President who is an ex-officio member; and shall also be published on the notice board.
The decisions of the Standing Committees can 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 must be made within three months.
The role of Standing Committees in the discharge of the duties of local governments is crucial. Only if the Standing Committees discharge the duties assigned to them efficiently can the discharge of local administration be effective, rational and scientific
Matters to be considered by the Finance Standing Committee
Finance, Taxation. Accounts, Audit, Budget, Public Administration, Taxation and matters not referred to the Standing Committees.
Members of the Finance Standing Committee
Chairperson - Mr. Roy Nambudakam, Vice President & Member Ward - 12 Vengalodi
Members
- Ms. Jisna Jacob, Member Ward - 03 Vettilakolli
2. Ms. Sushma, Member Ward - 07 Ambayathodu West
3. Ms. Omana Bharathan, Member Ward - 09 Kottiyoor
