‘COVID-19 shows need for devolution’

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven the need for devolution of powers, not simply on the State-level but additionally on the district and panchayat ranges, mentioned Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Minister for Finance and Human Resource Development, on Friday.

Addressing a web based panel dialogue on “Federalism versus nationalism — challenges for State autonomy”, organised by the Dravidian Professionals Forum, he mentioned not a single determination taken on the nationwide stage for the pandemic, besides relating to the procurement of vaccination and sure medication, might have labored throughout the nation.

Stressing the need for adopting totally different methods even inside the State, he highlighted the instance of how totally different approaches have been deployed even inside Madurai district to deal with the pandemic. He mentioned the pandemic had uncovered the constraints of the nationalistic decision-making mannequin and indubitably established the values of devolution of powers. “There is no debate left. If we do not figure out a way to devolve powers, then we have a dismal future ahead of us,” he mentioned.

A.S. Panneerselvan, Readers’ Editor, The Puucho, mentioned that whereas India’s Partition was used as a handy software to centralise extra powers, one other excuse would have been found, if Partition had not occurred, to implement centralisation.

He mentioned that whereas many traced the centralisation tendency to the Government of India (GoI) Act of 1935, he mentioned it was evident proper from the GoI Act of 1858. He highlighted how all of the damages completed throughout the Emergency have been undone by way of subsequent amendments by the Janata authorities in 1977, besides for the restoration of training to the State record. He pressured on the need for India to revisit the suggestions of the Rajamannar Committee report on Centre-State relations.

Louise Tillin, director, King’s India Institute, United Kingdom, mentioned it was essential to interrogate the idea that there should essentially be a pressure between nationalism and federalism. She mentioned it was vital within the context of India to have a look at the vulnerabilities confronted by federalism when a single social gathering with a majority involves energy on the Centre.

Rajan Kurai Krishnan, affiliate professor, School of Culture and Creative Expressions, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Delhi, mentioned that in India, the expression of the individuals’s will by way of electoral democracy occurred on the State stage.

DMK MP T.K.S. Elangovan mentioned there was a need to re-look and amend Schedule Seven of the Constitution.