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    The State Governments will take all necessary measures to ensure regular and timely elections to the Panchayats. Where the elections are due, they shall be held by December 31,2002.

    All State Governments shall take action to devolve Funds, Functions and Functionaries to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) before December 31,2002. In doing so , they will be guided by the recommendations of the Task Force on Devolution of Powers and Functions upon Panchayati Raj Institutions.

    There is a major mis-match between the responsibilities and the resources of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The State Governments will do everything required to ensure by December 31, 2002 that Panchayati Raj Institutions have the requisite financial resources and powers. In particular, they will implement the recommendations of the State Finance Commissions and enable the Panchayati Raj Institutions to raise requisite resources.

    In addition, the Union Government is urged to devise an appropriate mechanism to provide significant non-budgetary resources in the form of loans with long maturities to PRIs, specifically to be used for such developmental projects as are planned and executed by PRIs themselves.

    The States will ensure that the Panchayati Raj Institutions are empowered to work as functional institutions duly enjoying the requisite ability to plan and execute most Developmental works. The Executive should use the powers of superseding the Panchayats sparingly and only after complaints in this regard are looked into by a designated Ombudsman (to be headed by a retired judge), to be set up by December 31,2002.

    The State Government will, before December 31,2002, place the services of functionaries at the disposal of the Panchayats. Panchayats shall be given adequet powers of control and supervision over such staff. Future appointments will be done by the Panchayati Raj Institutions in accordance with the procedures to be laid down.

    All the State Governments will ensure that District Planning Committees (DPCs) are fully functional by the December 31,2002.The Chairperson of the District Panchayat will chair the DPC.

    State Governments will take action, before 31 December,2002, to ensure that parallel bodies, if any, particularly at the village level function under the guidance of the Panchayats.

    The institutions of Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabha need to be strengthened. The Gram Sabha shall meet at least four times a year, preferably on January 26, May 1, Augusts 15 and October 2. The Gram Sabha Meetings will be attended by concerned Government functionaries for which the State authorities will issue and ensure compliance of appropriate instructions.

    Each Gram Panchayat will have a Panchayat Planning Committee consisting of the Sarpanch, Members of the Panchayat and User Groups (Self-Help Groups, Watershed Development Committees, School Committees, etc.) This Committee will advise the Panchayat in the formulation of Development Plans and assist in execution and supervision of Programmes.

    The Panchayats need to be given adequate control over natural resources - Land, Water, Minor Forest Produce and Minerals. The State Governments will make suitable provisions or amendments, before December 31.2002, in the Laws and Rules governing these subjects.

    The functioning of the Panchayats will be in accordance with the 4-point strategy - Awareness, Participation, Transparency and Social Audit. Necessary legal provisions in this behalf will be made by the States before December 31,2002.

    In order to improve the pace and quality of administration, the facility of Information Technology will be extended, over the 10^th Five Year Plan period to the Panchayats with the participation of the Central and State Governments.

    The Central and State Governments should make adequate provision to ensure effective training to all the elected representatives as well as other functionaries of the Panchayati Raj Institutions.

    An appropriate structure of incentives will be put in place by the State and Central Governments to recognise and encourage the Panchayats for outstanding performance, especially in respect of improvements effected in accepted Social Development Indicators.

    The Sammelan welcomed the proposal mooted by the Hon'ble Prime Minister to discuss the need for an appropriate new Amendment to the Constitution to bring about speedy and effective devolution of financial and administrative powers to PRIs. After detailed discussion, the delegates to the Sammelan unanimously resolved to urge the Union Government to quickly initiate the process of bringing in the much needed new Constitution Amendment. The Sammelan also urged all the Political Parties and Members of Parliament to pass the Amendment and thus usher in the era of Second Generation of Panchayati Raj Reforms.