***

*.** Re-organisation of Administrative setup at Divisional Development Offices and

Panchayat Development wing of Collectorates with effect from 1st August 1997 Rural Development (E5) Department

G.O. (Ms) No. 244 Dated : 1.8.1997

1. G.O. (Ms) No. 1161, Rural Development & Local Administration, dated 21.5.1964.

2. G.O. (Ms) No. 1452, Rural Development & Local Administration, dated 12.6.1974.

3. G.O. (Ms) No.653, Rural Development, dated. 13.08.1987. 4. G.O. (Ms) No.263, Rural Development, dated. 27.12.1996. 5. G.O. (Ms) No.39, Rural Development, dated. 5.02.1997. 6. G.O. (Ms) No.68, Rural Development, dated. 7.03.1997. 7. G.O. (Ms) No.75 Rural Development, dated. 14.03.1997. 8. G.O. (Ms) No.92, Rural Development, dated. 26.03.1997. 9. G.O. (Ms) No.93, Rural Development, dated. 26.03.1997. 10. Director of Rural Development Circular No. 74549/96/JVVT. dated, 31.3.1997.

11. G.O. (Ms) No.137, Rural Development, dated.2.5.1997. 12. G.O. (Ms) No.180, Rural Development, dated. 09.06.1997. ORDER

The three tier system of Panchayat Administration consisting of Village Panchayats, Block Level Panchayats and District Level Panchayats, has come into force in the State after the October 1996 local body election, as per the Constitution (Seventy third Amendment) Act 1992 and the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994. Separate duties and responsibilities for each level of Panchayats have been prescribed. The Panchayats at each level function independently of each other. Therefore, it has become necessary to reorganize the existing administrative set up at different levels so as to be in tune with the new three tier system. The Government has examined this issue carefully.

2. In so far as the administrative set up at division level is concerned, most of the Districts have two Divisional Development Offices each and in a few Districts there are three Divisional Development Offices each. The administrative set up of the Divisional Development Offices in general is as follows:-

Sl.No. Category of Post No.of Posts

1. Divisional Development Officer 1

2. Deputy Block Development Officer 1

(Administration)

3. Extension Officer (Accounts) 1

4. Assistants 4

5. Junior Assistants 2

6. Steno-Typist 1

7. Typist 1

8. Driver 1

9. Record Clerk 1

10. Office Assistant 3

Note: There is a post of Extension Officer (Panchayats) or Additional Panchayat Officer at the Divisional Level in those Divisional Development Officers Office where there are more than 300 Panchayats in the Division.

2. IMPORTANT G.OS

105

The Divisional Development Offices were created in the year 1974 as an intermediary level supervisory and co-ordination mechanism between the Panchayat/Panchayat Unions and the Collectorate. Since then, bigger Districts have been bifurcated/trifurcated and new Districts have been created making co-ordination possible at District Level. Under the new Panchayat Act and the rules being framed thereunder, no statutory or regulatory powers vest with the intermediate or divisional level. There is no matter in regard to which the Panchayats, Panchayat Unions or Block Development Officers have to take the orders of the Divisional Development Officers. Unlike in the past, grants due to the Village Panchayats and Block Level Panchayats are being released to them directly by the District Collector. As such, the Divisional Development Officers, cannot, in the new dispensation, be vested with any administrative or financial tasks. Further, in the new set up, which envisages that each of the levels should function separately with clearly identified duties and responsibilities, it has become important to ensure proper monitoring and supervision of activities of each level. In particular, it is important to create a mechanism which will supervise and advise the Village Panchayats, especially in the context of substantial autonomy in financial and administrative matters granted to them. This mechanism should ensure proper distribution of grants which now will be channelised directly from the district level, and not through Panchayat Union Officer.

Secondly, Article 243J of the Constitution of India envisages the putting in place of an audit and accounting system for the Panchayats, in the context of new Act. Pendency of large number of audit objections relating to Village Panchayats and Panchayat Unions for quite a long time has revealed that special efforts have to be taken to ensure proper accounting at Village/Block level and to enforce accounting procedures, reconciliation and settlement of audit objection. In the circumstances, the Government have decided to reorganize the Divisional and the District Level administrative setup in the context of administrative requirements of the new set up put in place by the 73rd amendment to the Constitution of India. 3.The existing administrative set up in the Panchayat Development wing of the Collelctorate will remain unchanged and the standard pattern of staffing of the Panchayat Development wing of the Collectorate in each district will be as set out in the Government Order fifth read above

(vide annexure – I to that Government Order).

4.The system of routing the grants due to the Village Panchayats through the Panchayat Unions and executing the Village Panchayat Works by the Panchayat Unions is no longer in vogue. Under the three tier system of Panchayats administration, grants are being released to the Village Panchayats by the Collector or District Rural Development Agencies directly and Village Panchayats are implementing the schemes entrusted with them and executing the works taken up out of their funds. Close monitoring of the activities of about 300-500 Panchayats in each district has to be done at the District level. Therefore, the Government direct that the office of the Divisional Development Officer at the Headquarters of each District (or wherever there is no Divisional Development office at District head quarters, the one located nearest to the District head quarters) shall be redesignated as the Office of the “Development Officer (Panchayats)” and shall retain all posts currently in existence in that office. That is to say the Divisional Development Officer headquarters is redesignated as Development Officer (Panchayats) with all the staff currently working with him in position. There will be no change in the location of the office or officers. In general, the pattern of staffing for this office will be as follows:- 2. IMPORTANT G.OS

106

Sl.No. Category of Post No.of Posts

1. Development Officer(Panchayats) 1

2. Deputy Block Development Officer 1

(Administration)

3. Extension Officer (Accounts) 1

4. Assistants 4

5. Junior Assistants 2

6. Steno-Typist 1

7. Typist 1

8. Driver 1

9. Record Clerk 1

10. Office Assistant 3

Note: If there is a post of Extension Officer (Panchayats) or Additional Panchayat Officer in the Divisional Office now, that will continue.

5. The Development Officer (Panchayats) will continue to be Pay Drawing Officer for the staff of this office including Jawahar Velai Vaippu Thittam Sub- Division, Hand Pump and Power Pump maintenance and Radio and Television maintenance staff and other staff currently borne on this establishment. He will be a touring officer having jurisdiction over all Village Panchayats in the District. The Collector may delegate the powers of Inspector of Panchayats in respect of Village Panchayats to the Development Officer (Panchayats). He would also release grants to District Panchayats and Panchayat Unions.

6.The existing administrative setup at District level is not able to pay required attention to matters connected with audit of Village Panchayat Accounts and follow up action on audit / inspection reports relating to Panchayat Unions. As a result employees are facing hardships at the time of promotion and retirement. It is necessary to detect lapses and irregularities and take remedial measures without time lag. As Inspector of Panchayats, the Collector has to pay due attention to this aspect. Most importantly, the new system of village accounting procedure introduced requires a detailed programme of audit to be finalised and implemented systematically. Therefore, the Government direct that the Office of another Divisional Development Officer in each district shall be redesignated as office of the “Development Officer (Audit)”. There will be no change in the location of the office or officers. The staff pattern for his office will be as follows:- Sl.No. Category of Post No.of Posts

1. Development Officer (Audit) 1

2. Deputy Block Development Officer 1

3. Assistants 3

4. Junior Assistant 1

5. Steno-Typist 1

6. Typist 1

7. Driver 1

8. Office Assistant 2

7.The Development Officer (Audit) will continue to draw pay for the staff of his office and for the staff currently working in that office including Jawahar Velai Vaippu Thittam sub-Division, Hand Pump, Power Pump maintenance staff and Radio and Television maintenance staff. He will be Touring Officer having jurisdiction over all Village Panchayats, Block level Panchayats and District Panchayat in the District.

8.The above Divisional Development Officers Office now has some more posts than those listed in para 6 above. In the Government Order fourth read above, orders were issued for the creation of an Engineering Wing headed by a Divisional Engineer attached to the District Rural 2. IMPORTANT G.OS

107

Development Agency in each District. Necessary ministerial Staff has to be provided for the engineering wing. Hence, the Government direct that the following posts from the above Divisional Development Office shall be transferred to the Engineering Wing at the District level. Sl.No. Category of Post No.of Post

1. Assistant 1

2. Junior Assistant 1

3. Office Assistant 1

9.The District Rural Development Agencies which are implementing several antipoverty and development schemes have to maintain a lot of accounts and records. The Government, therefore, direct that one post of Extension Officer (Accounts) in the above Division in each District be transferred to the respective District Rural Development Agency. Many of the District Rural Development Agencies are not having Record Clerks. Therefore, the Government direct that one post of Record clerk at above Division in each District be transferred to the respective District Rural Development Agencies if they are not already having any post of Record Clerk. 10. The pattern of staff prescribed above will be applicable to all the Districts except The Nilgiris.

11. In the Government order fifth read above while sanctioning staff for forming new Divisional Development Offices at Madurantakam, Tiruttani, Thiruchengode, Uthamapalayam and Thiruvarur it was ordered that actual creation and filling up of the posts will be done only after issue of separate orders for creating Development Divisions. In the Government order sixth read above, while sanctioning formation of Development Divisions it was ordered that necessary orders regarding sanction of staff for these Divisions will be issued separately. Therefore there are no functional Divisional Development Offices in the above mentioned five Divisions. Divisional Offices at Madurantakam and Tiruttani are no longer required. The Divisional Offices of Tiruchengode, and Uthamapalayam will now function as the Offices of Development Officer (Audit) with the staff pattern for these Offices as indicated in para 6 above. The staff sanctioned for the above divisions in the G.O. fifth cited will be restricted to the requirement of posts indicated in para 6 above. The staff sanctioned for the above divisions in the G.O.fifth cited will be restricted to the requirement of posts indicated in para 6,8 and 9 above. The Divisional Office at Tiruvarur will now function as the office of the Development Officer (Panchayats) with the staff sanctioned in the Government Order fifth read above.

12. Karur Disrict has only one Divisional Development Office. This will function as the office of the Development Offices (Panchayats). The new Divisional Office at Kulithalai will function as the office of the Development Officer (Audit) with the staff pattern indicated in para 6 above. 13. In the Districts where there is only one Divisional Development Office currently, the Development Officer (Audit) and his supporting staff shall be accommodated in the respective Collectorates.

14. In regard to The Nilgiris District the pattern of staff ordered in para 3 and para 4 above will be applicable. As this District has one Development Division consisting of Panchayat Unions and Twenty Seven Village Panchayats only, there will be no separate Development Officer (Audit) and supporting staff. The functions of the Development Officer (Audit) shall be attended to by the Development Officer (Panchayats) in this District, with the following additional staff. Sl.No. Category No.of Posts

1. Extension Officer(Accounts) 1

2. Assistant 1

3. Junior Assistant 1

4. Record Clerk 1

5. Office Assistant 1

2. IMPORTANT G.OS

108

15. Cuddalore, Villupuram, Vellore, Salem, Dharmapuri, Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Thanjavur and Thirunelveli Districts, at present, have a third Divisional Development Office. All the posts in the administrative side in these Divisional Offices and surplus posts if any, in other Divisional Offices and in the Panchayat Development Wing of all Collectorates in excess of the reorganized pattern of staff prescribed above shall stand transferred to the respective District Panchayat temporarily. Vacancies in reorganised set up shall be filled up by the personnel of these posts transferred to District Panchayats and consequent vacancies of these transferred posts in the District Panchayat shall not be filled up. 16. Details of category wise number of posts now existing in the District Rural Development Agency and District Panchayat and number of posts transferred from District /Division level as ordered above shall be reported to the Director of Rural Development and Government immediately. Orders prescribing patterns of staff for the District Rural Development Agencies and District Panchayat will issue separately.

17. Shortage of posts if any as per the pattern prescribed above shall be made good by redeployment of posts if any existing at Block, Division or District level in excess of the pattern prescribed.

18. While transferring the posts of Drivers from division to District level, the connected vehicles also shall be transferred.

19. The Hand pump and Power Pump maintenance staff, Radio and Television maintenance staff and Jawahar Vellai Vaippu Thittam sub-division at Division level will continue at their present offices. The staff of Jawahar Velai Vaippu Thittam Sub- Division, Hand Pump and Power Pump maintenance staff and Radio and T.V. Maintenance staff at Division level where there is no office of Divisional Development Officer, will be attached to the Development Officer (Panchayats) concerned for purpose of drawal and disbursement of salary. 20. A job chart indicating broad categories of works to be allocated to the Personal Assistant

(Panchayat Development) to Collector, Development Officer (Panchayats) and Development Officer

(Audit) is given in the Annexure II to this order. It is not a final or detailed one. Based on the guidelines in this annexure, the Director of Rural Development shall immediately issue detailed orders allocating work to the three officers and communicate copies to the Government. While allocating work, it shall be borne in mind that except matters connected with audit and Panchayat election, all matters relating to Village Panchayats shall be allocated to the Development Officer

(Panchayats) and all matters relating to other Panchayats shall be allocated to the Personal Assistant (Panchayat Development) to Collector and matters relating to audit and election in all levels of Panchayats shall be entrusted to the Development Officer (Audit).Other general matters and matters relating to schemes not entrusted to District Rural Development Agency shall be allotted to the Personal Assistant (Panchayat Development) to Collector. 21. The reorganised setup as per this Government order will come into force with effect from Ist August 1997. All previous orders in regard to Division level administrative set up shall stand cancelled. Consequent on the reorganisation there shall not be any retrenchment or reversion. If there are any surplus posts, the Collectors should report details to the Director of Rural Development and the Government before 15.8.97 so that they could be deployed elsewhere in future. 22. This order issues with the concurrence of the Finance Department vide it U.O.No. 148/ JS (LSR)/97, dated, 26.6.97.

(By order of the Governor)

S.NARAYAN

SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT AND

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER

2. IMPORTANT G.OS

109

ANNEXURE- I (vide G.O.(Ms) No. 39, R.D.DT. 5.2.97) PATTERN OF STAFF FOR PANCHAYT DEVELOPMENT BRANCH OF COLLECTORATE POWER PUMP MAINTENANCE CELL

Sl.No. Category of Post No.of Post (Applicable to all Districts) 1. Assistant Executive Engineer 1

2. Junior Assistant 1

3. Typist 1

4. Jeep Driver 1

5. Office Assistant 1

BIOGAS PROGRAMME

Sl.No. Category of Post No.of Post (Applicable to all Districts) 1. Block Development Officer(Biogas) 1

2. Assistant Engineer (Biogas) 1

3. Technician(Biogas) 1

ANNEXURE – II- JOB CHART

I.PERSONAL ASSISTANT (PANCHAYAT DEVELOPMENT) TO COLLECTOR 1. Establishment matters relating to Panchayat Development Staff at Block, Division and Districts levels including Hand Pump and Power Pump Maintenance Staff, Technical staff under JVVT, Biogas and TNADP (Water Supply) and district level Engineering Wing. 2.Matters relating to Vehicles and Telephones, Stationery, furniture, electricity and buildings in Panchayat Development Unit.

Number of Posts

Sl.

No.

Category of Post Districts

having Ten

and Less

number of

Blocks

Districts

having

Eleven to

Fifteen

Blocks

Districts having

sixteen and

more Blocks

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

1. Personal Assistant to Collector

(Panchayat Development)

1 1 1

2. Block Development Officer /Huzur

Sharistadhar

1 1 1

3. Deputy Block Development Officer 1 2 2

4. Extension Officer (Accounts) 1 1 1

5. Assistants 7 7 8

6. Junior Assistants 3 4 4

7. Steno-Typist 1 1 1

8. Typists 2 3 3

9. Jeep Driver 1 1 1

10. Record Clerk 2 2 2

11. Office Assistants 3 4 4

12. Night Watchman 1 1 1

13. Masalchi 1 1 1

2. IMPORTANT G.OS

110

3.Preparation of Budget Estimate, Revised Estimate, F.M.A. estimates in respect of Panchayat Development Unit and Reconciliation of accounts.

4.Bifurcation/ Delimitation /Renaming/Re-classification etc. of Block Level Panchayats Delimitation of wards of Block and District Panchayats. 5.Matters relating to inspection of Block and District Panchayat Ofices, records, works and assets, eviction of encroachments etc.,

6.Surcharge Proceedings against Chairmen and Members of Block and District Panchayats. 7.Scrutiny and follow up of Resolutions, Budget and Administration reports of Block level Panchayats and District Panchayat.

8.Release of statutory and non – statutory grants due to and Revenue assigned to Block Level Panchayats and District Panchayat.

9.Monitoring and recovery of amounts due from Block and District Panchayats to the Government and other Orgnisations.

10. Monitoring of Schemes like Twenty Point Programme, Fifteen Point Programme, Special Component Plan, Drought Relief and Flood Relief Programmes, Family Welfare, Public Health, Eye Camps, Health Camps, Social Welfare and Adi Dravidar Welfare measures Flag Day, TB.Seals, Rural Water Supply, Rural Industries Programme etc to the extent they are implemented through Block and District Panchayats.

11. Approval and Monitoring of works taken up by Block level Panchayats and District Panchayats from their funds;

12. Matters relating to Monitoring and implementation of schemes like M.Ps. Local Area Development Schemes and M.L.As Local Area Development Scheme and other schemes not entrusted to District Rural Development Agency.

13. Matters relating to co-ordination of activities of different levels of Panchayats, District Rural Development Agency, other departments and Orgnisations involved in development activities. 14. Visit of V.I.Ps and Committees etc.

15. Defunct District Board matters.

16. Other general matters relating to Tourism, Pollution Control, Town and Country Planning etc.]

II. DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (VIILAGE PANCHAYATS)

1.Establishment matters of Village Panchayat Servants such as Panchayat Assistants, Part

–time Clerks, Group Clerk-cum-Bill Collectors, Sanitary workers, Power Pump/Over Head Tank Operators, Makkal Nala Paniyalargal etc.

2.Matters relating to Bifurcation/Upgradtion/Delimitation/ Renaming etc. of Village Panchayats. 3.Scrutiny of Budget of Village Panchayats in cases where there is difference of opinion between village Panchayat and Additional Block Development Officer. 4.Scrutiny and follow up of resolution of Village Panchayats. 5. Inspection of Village Panchayat Offices, Records, Works, assets and matters relating to eviction of encroachments.

6.Surcharge proceedings against Village Panchayat Presidents and Members. 7.Release of assigned revenues like Duty on Transfer of property, Share of Entertainment tax, Local Cess etc., State Finance Commission Devolution Grant and other grants due to Village Panchayats.

2. IMPORTANT G.OS

111

8.Monitoring of collection of taxes, fees, fines and others revenues due to Village Panchayats and recovery/deduction of amounts due from Village Panchayats to Government and other organisations.

9.Monitoring of provision of basic amenities like village roads, street lights, water supply, sanitation, Library and Reading rooms etc. by Village Panchayats and works taken up out of village Panchayat funds.

10. Matters relating to schemes implemented through village Panchayats. 11. Matters relating to Village Panchayats Administration /Annual Reports. III. DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (AUDIT)

1.Monitoring of Progress of audit of Village Panchayats accounts by Audit Officer based at block level and follow up action on audit reports. 2.Follow up action on Audit/Review/Inspection reports relating to Panchayats at all three levels presented by Account General and Director of Local Fund Accounts. 3.Follow up action on Reports of Public accounts Committee/ Public Undertakings committee and Estimates Committee relating to all kinds of Panchayats. 4.Follow up action on Inspection Reports of Departmental Officers relating to all kinds of Panchayats.

5. Matters relating to Census in Village Panchayats /Block level Panchayats and District Panchayat.

6.Matters relating to Election in Village Panchayats /Block level Panchayats and District Panchayat.

2. IMPORTANT G.OS

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